LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Mrs.  SARAH  P.  WALS  WORTH. 

Received  October  ,  1894. 
Accessions  No  .  5~frQ  3*          Cla&s  No. 


LESSOIS  FROM  JESUS : 


OB, 


THE  TEACHINGS  OF  DIVINE  LOVE. 


Br  W.  P.  BALFERN, 

14 

AUTHOR  OF  "GLIMPSES  OF  JESUS." 

ft 


"  And  all  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of  the  LORD  ;  and  great  shall  be  the 
peace  of  thy  children."— ISA.  liv.  13. 


NEW  YORK: 

SHELDON  &  COMPANY. 

BOSTON :  GOULD  &  LINCOLN. 
1859. 


PREFACE. 


IT  is  considered  very  wrong  by  many,  to  publish 
a  book  which  travels  over  a  path  marked  by  the 
footprints  of  the  illustrious  dead ;  and  by  others, 
unless  a  work  is  possessed  of  so  much  power  and 
originality  that  it  is  likely  to  stand  side  by  side, 
in  fraternal  juxtaposition,  with  the  intellectual 
and  spiritual  treasures  destined  to  live  so  long  as 
this  world's  literature  shall  last,  it  is  thought  to 
be  a  crime  to  publish.  In  these  sentiments  the 
writer  does  not  share  ;  for  however  industriously 
the  greatest  may  have  laboured  in  the  field  of 
truth,  their  inferiors  who  follow  them  will  fre- 
quently find  some  few  ears  which  it  may  be  use- 
ful to  gather  up ;  or,  to  change  the  figure,  it  may 
be  their  work  to  give  another  setting  to  the 
thoughts  of  those  who  have  departed,  more 
adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  age  in  which  they 
live.  In  this  way,  too,  through  inferior  men,  the 
mighty  dead  reproduce  themselves,  and  exert  an 
undying  influence ;  and  the  sweet  and  instructive 
voices  of  the  past,  that  would  long  have  been 
hushed  in  silence,  are  heard  through  the  writings 
and  utterances  of  living  men,  ringing  forth  an 


IV  PREFACE. 

everlasting  chime  amid  the  discords  and  changes 
ever  attendant  upon  the  growth  of  intellect  and 
the  march  of  mind. 

The  object  of  the  writer  is  to  gain  for  the 
whole  Gospel  a  more  extensive  and  affectionate 
reception  among  those  who  may  have  appre- 
hended it  but  partially,  and  to  bring  out  its  adap- 
tation to  the  varied  experiences  both  of  the  old 
and  the  young,  the  decided  and  the  undecided, 
the  believer  and  the  sceptic  : — subsidiary  to  these 
designs,  also  to  raise  a  note  of  warning,  as  to  the 
designs  of  many,  who  either  openly  or  covertly 
are  seeking  to  rob  the  Church  of  those  doctrines 
which  have  been,  and  must  continue  to  be,  the 
only  source  of  her  spiritual  strength,  beauty,  and 
usefulness,  while  travelling  through  this  wilder- 
ness of  time. 

The  reader  will  perceive  that  some  of  the  most 
beautiful  poems  in  this  work,  are  selected  from  a 
series  entitled  "  Lyra  Germanica."  Should  the 
liberty  taken  in  extracting  them  be  the  means 
of  leading  any  to  purchase  the  volumes  them- 
selves, it  will  afford  great  pleasure  to  the  writer 
of  this  book,  as  he  is  acquainted  with  no  poetry 
more  fully  equal  to  its  high  and  holy  aim,  or 
better  adapted  to  strengthen  and  feed  a  devotional 
spirit. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGB 

Mary  at  the  Feet  of  Jesus ;  or,  the  Model  Disciple,  .  .  3 
Fruitless  Toil ;  or,  a  Word  to  the  Gay,  the  Guilty,  and  the 

Wise, 13 

The  Midnight  Disciple ;  or,  a  Guide  to  Faith,  .  .  .25 
The  Look  of  Christ ;  or,  How  to  Repent,  .  .  .  .35 
A  Desert  Place ;  or,  the  Test  of  Discipleship,  .  .  .43 
The  Syrophenician  Woman ;  or,  the  Successful  Applicant,  .  55 
The  Silence  of  Jesus ;  or,  How  to  Meet  False  Accusations,  .  69 
Christ  and  the  Demoniac ;  or,  Never  Despair,  .  .  .75 
The  Captive  Loosened;  or,  Hope  for  the  Bound,  .  .97 
Jesus  and  the  Blind  Man ;  or,  a  Guide  for  the  Perplexed,  .  107 
Jesus  and  the  Growing  Corn ;  or,  the  Progress  of  Divine 

Life, 121 

Kind  Words;  or,  a  Lesson  for  the  Angry,  .  .  .  .135 
The  Weeping  Disciples ;  or,  Consolation  for  the  Parted,  .  141 
The  Love  of  the  Spirit ;  or,  the  Church's  Great  Need, .  .  149 


VI  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

The  Disciple  Admonished ;  or,  the  Christian's  Danger,  .  171 
Footsteps  of  Love ;  or,  Jesus  Crucified : — 

The  Agony  in  the  Garden, 183 

The  Traitor's  Kiss, 187 

The  False  Charge,        .  ....  190 

The  Parted  Garments, 194 

The  Scourge, 197 

The  Scarlet  Robe, 200 

The  Crown  of  Thorns, 201 

The  Weary  Journey, 204 

The  Cruel  Death, 208 

"Wells  of  Salvation ;  or,  the  Joy  of  the  Church,  .  .  .221 
The  Solemn  Admonition ;  or,  a  Lesson  for  the  Covetous,  .  237 
The  One  Offering;  or,  the  Christian's  Rest,  .  .  .247 
The  Believer's  Great  Lesson;  or,  the  Condition  of  Peace,  .  259 
Apostolic  Preaching ;  or,  the  Manifestation  of  the  Truth  to 

the  Conscience, 269 

Positive  Theology ;  or,  the  Whole  Counsel  of  God,  .  .287 
A  Right  Motive ;  or,  a  Sublime  Life,  .  .  .  .  .  305 


LESSONS  FROM  JESUS; 

OR, 

THE  TEACHINGS  OF  DIVINE  LOVE. 


"At  Thy  through-pierced  feet, 
I'll  humbly  take  my  seat ; 

There's  heaven's  enjoyment: 
To  give  Thee  thanks  and  praise 
For  all  Thy  love  and  grace 

Be  my  employment." 

Oh !  may  we  here  in  faith  abide 
At  Jesus'  feet,  whate'er  betide  ; 
May  neither  sin  nor  change  remove 
Our  hearts  from  resting  in  His  love ! 


• 

LESSONS  FROM  JESUS, 


tag  at  tjftjirfof  f«; 

OB, 

THL    MODEL    DISCIPLE. 


"  Who  also  sat  at  Jesus'  feet.'11 — Luke  x.  39. 

OF  the  author  of  the  "  Divina  Commedia,"  a 
certain  celebrated  writer  has  said,  "  I  think  that 
the  central  man  of  all  the  world,  as  representing  in 
perfect  balance  the  imaginative,  moral,  and  intel- 
lectual faculties,  all  at  their  highest,  is  Dante." 
How  much  more  sublimely  true  is  this  of  HIM  who 
while  He  was  really  man  with  us  was  no  less  God ; 
whose  mind  was  a  perfect  mirror  of  God's  law 
irom  the  cradle  to  the  tomb ;  and  who,  indeed, 
embodied  in  Himself  all  perfection  both  human 
and  divine.  Of  the  great  poet  thus  eloquently 
eulogised,  we  are  sure,  that,  though  the  powers  of 
his  mind,  like  a  majestic  harp,  gave  forth  sweet 
and  illustrious  music,  yet  there  were  the  discordant 
notes  incident  to  humanity;  and  the  wonderful 


4  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

singer  himself,  in  his  latter  days  wrote,  "  I  have 
already  written  many  times  regarding  love  in  the 
sweetest,  most  beautiful,  and  graceful  rhymes  I 
was  able,  and  I  exerted  all  my  powers  to  refine 
them.  They  no  longer  satisfy  my  desires,  for  I 
know  that  I  have  vainly  expended  my  labours,  and 
been  ill  repaid.  I  now  withdraw  my  hand  from 
writing  any  longer  on  this  false  love,  but  will  dis- 
course on  God  as  befits  a  Christian."  Of  this 
false  love  he  thus  wrote : — 

"  A  slave  before,  Thou  hast  released  me.     Thou, 
By  every  art  and  mode  that  could  be  tried, 

Did'st  win  the  freedom  that  I  cherish  now. 
Continue  Thy  beneficence  to  me, 

So  that  my  soul,  which  Thou  hast  purified, 
May  lose  its  mortal  bonds,  approved  by  Thee." 

How  beautifully  consistent  and  congruous  would 
this  language  be  as  applied  to  Him  whose  love  is 
the  source  of  heaven's  purity  and  joy,  and  whose 
words  proclaim  liberty  to  the  captive  and  the 
opening  of  the  prison  to  those  who  are  bound. 
Of  One  whom  we  can  truly  say, 

"  That,  day  by  day, 

Like  one  who  never  can  be  truly  known, 
His  beauty  grows ;" 

and  who,  to  the  sanctified  heart,  must  ever  be 
"the  chiefest  among  ten  thousand  and  the  alto- 
gether lovely."  Strange  that  the  lips  of  genius 


MAKY  AT   THE    FEET   OF   JESUS.  5 

have  so  little  to  say  about  Him!  The  vast 
powers  of  Dante,  and  many  other  kindred  minds, 
excite  our  wonder,  and  there  are  many  other 
things  in  the  world  that  perpetually  call  it  forth. 
Our  own  physical  and  moral  constitution,  the 
flowers  beneath  our  feet,  and  the  stars  above  our 
heads — every  object,  indeed,  which  surrounds  us, 
whether  great  or  small,  presents  to  the  contem- 
plative mind  elements  of  thought  and  astonish- 
ment. Still  there  is  nothing  in  this  visible  uni- 
verse, with  all  its  multitudinous  objects,  harmonies, 
and  adaptations,  which  excites  so  much  sublime 
and  intelligent  wonder  in  the  mind  of  a  Christian, 
as  the  incarnation  of  the  Son  of  God. 

Here  reason  pales  her  wonted  fires, 
And  mute  with  holy  awe  adores. 

That  He,  who  was  God  over  all,  should  so  iden- 
tify Himself  with  us  as  to  become  bone  of  our 
bone  and  flesh  of  our  flesh, — should  so  veil  the 
brightness  of  His  face  that  sinful  creatures  could 
gaze  upon  it  and  live, — that  He  should  come  so 
near  'to  us,  as  that  we  could  reach  Him,  yea,  even 
sit  at  His  feet, — that  He  should  wear  our  nature, 
use  our  words,  and  through  them  pour  His  great 
and  loving  thoughts  into  our  hearts,  is  wonderful 
indeed. 

"How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the 
feet  of  those  who  bring  glad  tidings !"  said  one  of 


6  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

old.  How  beautiful  do  the  servants  of  Christ  ap- 
pear, as,  constrained  by  faith  and  love,  they  stand 
forth  to  make  known  to  dying  men  the  glories  of 
their  Lord!  How  much  more  beautiful  does  He 
appear,  whose  glorious  deeds  furnish  them  with 
the  glad  tidings  they  proclaim ;  who  robed  Him- 
self in  frailty,  and  came  over  the  huge  mountains 
of  our  guilt,  and  through  seas  of  suffering  and 
sorrow,  to  reach  and  to  save  us !  "Well  may  we, 
indeed,  sit  at  His  feet  who  came  to  guide  us  to- 
paths  of  purity  and  peace.  Eeader,  who  is  thy 
teacher?  with  what  school  or  sect  dost  thou  stand 
identified?  We  wish  to  direct  thy  attention  to  a 
pleasing  and  instructive  scene — a  woman  sitting 
at  the  feet  of  Jesus.  It  was  a  lowly  place,  but  it 
became  her  well,  and  in  the  temple  of  truth  she 
lives  illustrious,  a  fair  example  to  all,  and  thus 
she  shall  appear  to  ages  yet  unborn. 

At  whose  feet  did  she  sit?  At  the  feet  of 
Jesus.  And  who  was  He  ?  Isaiah  gives  His 
name  in  full :  "  His  name  shall  be  called  Won- 
derful, Counsellor,  the  Mighty  God,  the  Everlast- 
ing Father,  the  Prince  of  peace."  Wise  was  this 
woman's  choice :  she  stooped  to  take  the  highest 
place;  well  might  the  angels  envy  her.  Who 
shall  be  great  if  she  is  not ;  so  near  the  King  of 
kings  she  sat,  on  terms  of  intimacy  with  the  Lord 
of  all :  this  might  be  doubted,  but  it  was  even  so, 
such  was  the  condescension  of  our  God.  What 
can  we  say  ?  The  reader  may  test  this  fact — it 


MARY  AT  THE   FEET  OF  JESUS.  7 

is  not  impossible  even  now  to  sit  at  Jesus' s  feet. 
Dost  thou  inquire  how  ? — by  thinking  over  His 
words  in  faith  and  prayer.  Christ  is  not  far  from 
any  one  of  us,  and  to  the  humble,  waiting  spirit, 
will  make  known  His  love,  though  now  enthroned 
above.  We  may  be  intimate  with  God ;  although 
so  great,  He  calls  us  to  His  feet,  He  claims  our 
ear:  "Hearken"  (He  says),  "0  daughter,  and 
consider  and  incline  thine  ear ;  forget  also  thine 
own  people  and  thy  father's  house :  so  shall  the 
King  greatly  desire  thy  beauty;  for  He  is  my 
Lord,  and  worship  thou  Him."  It  is  not  His  will 
that  we  should  wander  through  the  universe  like 
orphans,  uncertain,  neglected,  sad.  There  is  a 
place  where  He  unveils  His  love,  reveals  His 
face — a  father's  heart — and  speaks  in  language  we 
can  understand ;  where  His  great  mind  spreads 
out  its  ample  stores  to  satisfy  the  longing  soul. 
The  feet  of  Jesus  is  this  place  :  reader,  hast  thou 
been  there?  'Thou  hast  climbed  the  summit  of 
some  lofty  mountain,  it  may  be  with  toil  and 
pain,  to  gaze  upon  the  outspread  charms  of  Na- 
ture's face :  more  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  thou  mayest 
see,  without  the  toil  and  weariness. 

Hast  thou  not  looked  into  His  face?  Thou 
hast  not  seen  much ;  thou  hast  not  seen  the  mir- 
ror of  His  love  who  made  thee,  His  wisdom, 
beauty,  grace.  Look  up  from  thence,  and  thou 
wilt  see  more  than  the  stars;  the  world  a  little 
thing,  and  truths  we  all  should  know,  but  which 


8  LESSONS  FKOM  JESUS. 

on  Nature's  brow,  however  fair,  we  never  should 
read. 

She  sat  at  Jesus's  feet.  0  how  humility  ex- 
alted her :  it  raised  her  to  the  bosom  of  her  Lord, 
brought  commendation  from  the  lips  of  God! 
She  meekly  stooped  to  bear  His  mild  and  easy 
yoke, — too  glad  to  receive  instruction  from  His 
lips.  She  sat — she  stayed,  awhile,  she  waited  on 
His  words.  With  open  heart,  like  Lydia's,  she 
listened  anxious  to  learn,  and  held,  her  memory, 
like  a  golden  vase,  to  catch  each  precious  fragrant 
drop  of  truth  which  came  distilling  from  His  lips. 
Many  rush  into  the  presence  of  Christ  with  steeled 
hearts,  and  ears  half  closed,  attention  fast  asleep, 
and  reason's  eye  filmed  o'er  by  prejudice,  and  rush 
away  again,  and  wonder  they  are  not  wise. 
Eeader,  if  thou  wouldst  know  the  Lord,  stay  with 
Him  for  a  time ;  ponder  His  words,  until  their 
meaning  makes  them  sweet  to  thee  ;  hide  thou  the 
precious  grain  within,  and  give  it  time  to  fructify ; 
upon  the  walls  of  the  dark  chamber,  of  vain  ima- 
gery within,  let  the  words  of  Jesus  shine  like 
stars,  and  gaze  upon  them  until  their  light  beams 
cheerfully  upon  thee,  and  brings  to  thee  intelli- 
gence of  things  this  godless,  idle,  thoughtless 
world  sees  not,  of  joys,  and  peace,  and  rest,  and 
which  lie  far  away  beyond  the  reach  of  all  its 
noise,  its  teaching,  and  its  praise. 

"Who  also  sat  at  Jesus's  feet."  How  comely 
her  position.  Was  it  not  right  to  bow  to  Him 


MAKY  AT  THE   FEET  OF  JESUS.  9 

who  stooped  from  heaven  to  suffering  and  death 
that  He  might  lift  her  to  a  throne  ?  Comely — 
how  beautiful  to  see  .the  creature's  mind  accord 
with  God's,  to  mark  a  soul  stooping  to  slake  its 
thirst  at  life's  own  fountain !  How  wise  for  frailty 
to  repose  on  everlasting  strength;  for  conscious 
ignorance  to  hang  upon  the  lips  which  never  err ; 
a  spotted  soul  to  hide  beneath  His  priestly  vest, 
who  never  sinned. 

How  great  its  advantages.  It  is  here  the  whis- 
pers of  a  Saviour's  love  are  heard,  the  voice  of 
wisdom  too  often  lost  amid  the  din  of  life ;  and 
here  His  face  is  seen  whose  unveiled  charms  fill 
heaven  with  bliss;  here  peace  resides,  and  fills 
the  quiet  heart  with  overflowing  joy.  And  when 
the  universe  shall  reel,  and  nations  wail  responsive 
to  the  archangel's  blast,  the  meek  disciple  at  the 
feet  of  Christ  shall  lift  his  smiling  face  and  say, 
"  My  Saviour  reigns."  Reader,  it  is  possible  by 
faith  and  prayer  to  sit  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  now ; 
but  self  and  pride  must  fall,  the  world  must  be 
forsaken. 

Art  thou  prepared  for  this  ? 

Remember  that  he  who  will  not  sit  at  the 
feet  of  Jesus  now,  must  come  beneath  His  feet  at 
last. 

A  place  there  is  where  friends  can  meet, 
Though  death  remove  and  seas  divide ; 

'Tis  found  in  Christ,  'tis  at  His  feet, 
Hard  by  His  cross  and  wounded  side. 


10  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

Here,  freed  from  care,  the  poor  rejoice, 
Forget  their  toils  and  lose  their  grief; 

The  waiting  heart  hears  mercy's  voice, 
And  finds  the  balm  which  brings  relief. 

Here  faith  and  love  together  dwell, 
With  weeping  eyes  here  oft  adore, 

Record  His  triumph  over  hell, 

Who  all  their  sins  and  sorrows  bore. 

Here  peace  with  outspread  wings  abides, 
And  folds  her  children  to  her  breast, 

And,  while  the  scoffing  world  derides, 
Dries  up  their  tears  and  gives  them  rest 


"  Alas,  for  man  who  hath  no  sense 
Of  gratefulness  or  confidence, 

But  still  rejects  and  raves  ; 
That  all  God's  love  can  hardly  win 
One  soul  from  taking  pride  in  sin, 

And  pleasure  over  graves." 

"  What  is  the  dry  and  miscarrying  hope  of  all  them  who  are 
not  in  Christ,  but  confusion  and  wind  ?  Oh,  how  pitifully  and 
miserably  are  the  children  of  this  world  beguiled,  whose  wine 
cometh  home  to  them  water,  and  their  gold  brass  and  tin  I  And 
what  wonder  that  hopes  builded  upon  sand  should  fall  and  sink ! 
It  would  be  good  for  us  all  to  abandon  the  forlorn  and  blasted 
and  withered  hope,  which  we  have  had  in  the  creature ;  and  let 
us  henceforth  come  and  drink  water  out  of  our  own  well,  even 
the  fountain  of  living  waters,  and  build  our  hope  upon  Christ 
our  Rock.  But,  alas !  that  that  natural  love  which  we  have  to 
this  borrowed  home  that  we  are  born  in,  and  that  this  clay  city, 
the  vain  earth,  should  have  the  largest  share  of  our  heart !  Our 
poor,  lean,  and  empty  dreams  of  confidence  in  something  besides 
God  are  no  further  excursive  than  up  and  down  the  noughty 
and  feckless  creatures.  God  may  say  of  us  as  he  said  (Amos  vi. 
13),  'Ye  rejoice  in  a  thing  of  nought'  Surely  we  spin  our 
spider's  web  with  pain,  and  build  our  rotten  and  tottering  house 
upon  a  lie,  and  falsehood,  and  vanity." — RUTHERFORD. 


A  WORD  TO  THE  GAY,  THE 
AND  THE  WISE. 


"  Simon  Pder  saith  unto  them,  I  $&>  ®  fishing,     fhey  sqy:l, 
unto  him.  We  also  go  with  thee.     Tk>Qy  went  forth,  and  en- 
tered into  <&  ship  immediately  /  atnj  thqttnig]it  they  caught  ,, 
nothing*     But  when  the  morning  was  now  c_ome}  Jesus  stood 
on  the  shore :  but  the  disciples^  Jfnew  not  that  it  was  Jesus. 
Then  Jesus  saith  unto  themy  (Children,  have  ye  any  meat?.' 
They  answered  him.  No.     A<frd  he  said  unto ., them,  Cast  the, 
net  on  the  right  side  of  the  s&ip,  and  ye  shall  jfmd.  -  They  cast^ 
therefore,  and  now  they  w.^e  not  able  to  draw-  it  for, 
titude  of  fishes" — John  x^xi.  3 — 6. 

THIS  world  is  a^gjace  of  fruitless  toil;  for, 
are  not  willing  to  be  instructed.  Like 
ciples  of  old}  they  toil  over  the  sea  of  life  fc, 
dark,  fishing.. for  happiness  as  they  go,  but  gene- 
rally in  vain.  Being  unwilling  to  profit  by  the 
wisdom  of^those  who  have  tolled  over  the  sea  be- 
fore them%  thfir  net  is  mostly- §>und  on  the 
2 


14:  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

side  of  the  vessel,  while  they  are  quite  ready  to 
throw  the  blame  of  their  numerous  failures  on 
anything  and  everybody  rather  than  themselves. 
Let  us,  however,  endeavour  to  gather  from  the 
interesting  narrative  above  recorded,  those  instruc- 
tions which  it  is  calculated  to  impart,  and  which, 
through  the  Divine  blessing,  may  save  us  from 
some  of  those  great  mistakes  which  have  trans- 
formed the  lives  of  many  into  one  scene  of  disap- 
pointment and  sorrow.  We  will  notice  the  fruit- 
less toil,  the  Divine  Teacher,  and  the  miraculous 
draught. 

THE  FRUITLESS  TOIL.  " /  go  a  fishing"  said 
Peter.  And,  "  Come,"  says  the  jovial  man  to  his 
boon  companions,  "  Come,  let  us  go  and  have 
some  sport  to-night.  Away  with  melancholy: 
life  is  the  time  to  be  happy  and  gay ;"  and  so 
away  they  go  to  fish  for  happiness  upon  the  sea 
of  worldly  pleasure.  The  night  is  dark,  but  their 
minds  are  darker ;  they  have  heard  that  this  sea 
has  its  rocks,  and  is  liable  to  storms,  and  that 
many  a  goodly  ship  has  been  wrecked  there,  but 
what  care  they ;  fish  they  will,  and  so  they  toil 
all  night.  And  when  the  morning  comes,  what 
have  they  taken  ?  Answer,  ye  devotees  of  plea- 
sure;; let  conscience  speak;  must  not  your  reply 
be  that  of  the  disciples  <of  old,  "  We  have  toiled 
all  night  and  taken  nothing;"  or,  worse,  that  the 
dog-fish  of  weariness  and  a  guilty  conscience  is 
your  only  reward. 


FRUITLESS  TOIL.  15 

And  "I  go  a  fishing,"  says  another.  "Come, 
friends."  Alas  !  one  sinner  makes  many.  Their 
destination  ?  the  sea  of  strong  drink.  And  what 
result?  Answer,  ye  daring  voyagers,  ye  storm- 
tossed,  weary  labourers  who  have  hitherto  escaped 
its  boiling  waves ;  withered  and  blasted,  it  is  true, 
— scarce  men,  yet  speak.  You  will  not;  then 
God  shall] — hear  what  He  says  your  toil  shall 
bring:  the  sea  can  yield  no  more.  "Who 
hath  woe  ?  who  hath  sorrow  ?  who  hath  conten- 
tions? who  hath  babbling?  who  hath  wounds 
without  cause  ?  who  hath  redness  of  eyes  ?  They 
that  tarry  long  at  the  wine ;  they  that  go  to  seek 
mixed  wine.  Look  not  thou  upon  the  wine 
when  it  is  red,  when  it  giveth  his  colour  in  the 
cup,  when  it  moveth  itself  aright.  At  the  last  it 
kiteth  like  a  serpent,  and  stingeth  like  an  adder" 
And  is  it  for  this  serpent  you  will  toil  all  night? 
that  it  may  sting  thee  to  eternal  death,  and  de- 
stroy thee  in  body  and  soul  ?  And  is  it  to  catch 
this,  that  wife  and  child,  home  and  friends,  are 
forsaken  ?  Can  it  be  ?  is  it  possible  ?  what  dread- 
ful infatuation  is  this  ?  0  temerous  voyager,  flee 
from  this  dreadful  sea  ;  thy  little  bark  once  upset, 
thou  art  lost,  for  ever  lost !  0  open  thine  eyes, 
look  around  thee :  observe  how  swift  the  eddying 
current  flows  toward  yonder  rocks — that  dread 
abyss !  See,  drifting  all  around  thy  course,  the 
wrecks  of  many  a  gallant  vessel,  which,  like  thy 
own,  once  proudly  danced  o'er  the  surging  waves, 


16  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

buoyant  with  life,  and  health,  and  joy,  but  now, 
alas !  no  longer  seen.  0  daring  fisherman,  take 
heed  !  Call  now  on  God  for  help  !  nor  trust  thy- 
self upon  the  waves  of  this  mad  sea  again. 

And  who  is  that  with  wan,  pale  face,  and  anx- 
ious look — a  burden,  too, 'tied  to  his  back.  He 
sighs,  and  weeps,  and  labours  on.  Anon!  he 
stops  and  tries  to  shake  his  burden  off,  then  starts 
afresh ;  but  all  in  vain.  The  sea  of  error  is  his 
goal ;  and  see,  he  has  arrived ;  and  mark  how 
hard  he  toils  to  fish  up  mercy  from  the  secret 
deeps  of  that  dark,  gloomy,  ever-heaving  sea. 
How  anxiously  he  strives,  all  through  his  dismal 
night  of  sorrow,  for  pardon  and  peace  of  con- 
science— rest.  Alas!  he  finds  them  not.  Num- 
bers, with  him,  cast  in  their  nets.  The  sea  is 
deep,  but  yields  them  nought.  Poor  man,  his 
constant  draught  is  disappointment.  He  watches 
other  boats,  and  follows  in  their  wake  :  they  are 
strong  and  confident,  and  seem  to  catch  all  they 
require ;  but  he  takes  nought.  Still  from  his  lips 
the  doleful  words  oft  fall,  "I've  toiled  all  night 
and  taken  nothing."  Yet,  o'er  the  waters  of  that 
troubled  sea,  the  voice  of  mercy  rolls  :  "  Believe, 
and  peace  is  yours."  It  cannot  be,  he  thinks, — 
Believe !  what,  leave  off  my  work  ;  do  nothing ! 
Have  all  I  want  for  nothing !  what  idle  words 
come  on  the  breeze !  And  so  he  bends  his  bur- 
dened back  down  to  his  oar,  "  I  will  have  peace," 
{i  I  must  have  peace,"  he  says,  while  from  his  eyes 


FRUITLESS  TOIL.  17 

the  tears  roll  down.  Poor  man,  the  sea  of  error 
cannot  yield  thee  aught  to  feed  thy  soul ! 

And  mark  yon  toiling  missionary  as  he  stands 
weeping  in  the  midst  of  that  degraded  band  of 
heathens  :  why  does  he  weep  ?  He  has  laboured 
these  many  years,  and  taken  nothing.  It  has  been 
a  long,  sad  night  of  toil ;  no  solitary  star  of  hope 
has  cheered  him  ;  not  one  of  those  encompassed 
by  his  toil  and  prayer  has  bowed  to  the  sceptre  of 
the  Prince  of  Peace,  or  opened  his  hard  heart  to 
welcome  His  embrace.  And  why  this  failure? 
He  thought  the  people  being  so  depraved,  he  had 
better  educate  them  first — create  a  moral  sense — 
and  then  make  known  to  them  the  joyful  tidings 
of  a  Saviour's  death ;  and  hence  this  disappoint- 
ment. 

How  trying  to  the  mind  is  fruitless  toil  ;  but 
how  needful  is  it  to  show  us  our  faults,  and  pre- 
pare us  to  receive  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  when 
it  comes ! 

THE  DIVINE  TEACHER.  "  But  when  the  morn- 
ing was  now  come,  Jesus  stood  on  the  shore." — It  is 
ever  morning  when  Jesus  visits  His  disciples. 
However  dark  the  night,  when  He  appears  the 
light  gets  through  the  clouds,  and  the  morning 
breaks.  0  what  a  bright  morning  broke  upon 
the  dark  night  of  human  sorrow  at  the  Incarna- 
tion, when  Jesus  robed  Himself  in  frailty,  and  for 
the  first  time-  placed  His  foot  upon  the  shores  of 
this  guilty,  wrecked,  and  storm-tossed  world! 


o-x- 


18  LESSONS  FKOM  JESUS. 

And  oh,  what  a  bright  morning  will  burst  upon 
the  vision  of  the  perfected  just,  when,  standing 
upon  that  sea  of  glass  which  John  saw  in  Apoca- 
jyptic  vision,  they  behold  their  glorified  Lord : 
when,  the  full  fruition  of  their  hopes  being  real- 
ised, their  sun  shall  no  more  go  down,  the  days 
of  their  sorrow  having  for  ever  passed  away. 

u  lie  stood  on  the  shore" — He  was  not  far  from 
them.  And,  ye  toiling  ones,  who  have  long 
been  fishing  for  happiness  upon  the  troubled  sea 
of  worldly  gain  and  pleasure,  know  that  He  who 
can  instruct  you  how  to  take  the  prize  is  not  far 
from  you ;  hear  His  voice,  as  He  expostulates  with 
you:  "Wherefore,"  saith  He,  "do  ye  spend 
money  for  that  which  is  not  bread?  and  your 
labour  for  that  which  satisfteth  not?  Hearken 
diligently  unto  me,  and  eat  ye  that  which  is 
good,  and  let  your  soul  delight  itself  in  fatness." 

"  But  the  disciples  knew  Him  not" — Their 
greatest  Friend  was  unknown  to  them.  And  be 
assured  of  this,  ye  sons  of  fruitless  toil,  although 
the  world  may  smile  upon  the  labour  of  your 
hands,  and  praise  your  deeds,  and  laud  your  name, 
as  yet  your  best  Friend  is  to  you  unknown. 

But  though  the  disciples  knew  Him  not,  He 
knew  them.  The  night  was  not  too  dark  for  Him 
to  see  them,  and  mark  their  toil.  And  thus,  even 
now,  His  omniscient  eye  surveys  the  sea  of  life. 
Each  little  bark  He  beholds'  in  which  His  disci- 
ples ride,  and  struggle  hard,  with  many  a  sigh 


FRUITLESS   TOIL.  19 

and  tear,  to  take  enough  to  meet  their  wants,  un- 
til, the  voyage  being  over,  they  reach  the  haven 
of  their  hopes. 

"  And  He  stood  upon  the  shore,  and  He  said, 
Children,  have  ye  any  meal?" — And  thus  from 
the  distant  shores  of  eternity  speaks  the  Great 
Teacher  now  through  His  truth,  and  to  each 
anxious  labourer  on  the  sea  of  life  He  puts  this 
question,  "  Have  ye  any  meat?  "  Answer,  ye  aged 
men,  who  many  years  have  toiled  'mid  stormy  seas, 
to  fill  the  ship  with  this  world's  merchandise,  your 
only  aim :  say,  Have  ye  any  meat?  What!  has  the 
soul  been  starved  ?  is  there  no  crumb  on  board  to 
feed  a  better  hope  when  storms  and  tempests 
come?  What!  must  you  answer  "No?"  0  shame! 
How  long  shall  folly  claim  thy  hoary  locks,  and 
fruitless  toil  hold  fast  thy  withered  form,  and  point 
thoughtless  youth  to  thee  as  his  patron,  while  death 
stands  by  to  snatch  thee  from  thy  oar,  and  hell  im- 
patient waits  and  opens  wide  her  mouth  to  take 
thee  in ! 

To  you,  young  man,  no  less  the  Saviour  speaks. 
Your  boat  is  gay — the  sea  of  pleasure  bright — your 
sails  well  spread  to  catch  the  gale  prosperity  now 
sends.  And  what  have  you  ?  Come,  trifler,  speak ! 
God  puts  the  question :  you  will  not  answer.  You 
must  some  day ;  better  speak  now ;  confess  the 
truth.  There  is  much  display :  and  is  that  all  ? 
what  saith  the  soul?  Your  angling  rod,  your  silver 
line,  and  silken  nets,  have  taken  nought — have 


20  •  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

really  brought  no  satisfaction  home.  The  mind 
still  craves  for  that  you  cannot  take,  with  all  your 
sails  outspread  and  nets  employed.  And  so  from 
you  a  negative  must  come, — "  I  have  no  food." 

And  thou,  too,  ancient  man,  with  stooping  gait 
and  thoughtful  mien,  and  boat  well  laden  too 
with  ancient  "  saws  and  modern  instances," — must 
you  confess  at  this  late  hour  your  cargo-emptiness? 
— no  meat !  a  shoal  of  doubts  fished  from  the 
abysses  of  scepticism,  which  now  you  doubt  ?  rich 
dainty  food,  0  flourishing  condition,  wise  man! 
And  can  it  be,  0  sage  philosopher,  past  now  thy 
threescore  years  and  ten,  that  with  thy  nets  of 
metaphysical  lore  all  logically  devised,  and  all  thy 
toil,  oft  faint  and  weary,  to  drag  them  through  the 
sea  of  speculation,  they  bring  thee  this  result — 
that  now  the  eye  is  dim,  the  ears  are  nearly  closed, 
and  o'er  the  sky  dark  clouds  appear,  while  in  the 
dim  uncertain  distance  looms  the  Jee-shore  death — 
in  answer  to  the  question,  put  by  lips  infallible,  if 
thou  hast  aught  on  board  to  meet  thy  wants  just 
now,  must  even  you  reply,  "  I  have  no  meat ;  I 
know  not  whence  I  come,  or  whither  I  go ! "  Alas ! 
poor  man,  and  is  this  all  that  we  can  write  upon 
thy  coffin  lid, — hast  thou  so  laboured  that  if  truth 
wrote  thy  epitaph  it  must  stand  thus : — 

Here  lies  a  learned  fool,  who  toiled 
All  through  his  life  to  catch  a  negative, 
And  have  the  bliss  of  dying  in  the  dark  ? 


FRUITLESS  TOIL.  21 

THE  MIRACULOUS  DRAUGHT.  "And  Jesus  said, 
Cast  the  net  on  the  right  side  of  the  ship,  and  ye 
shall  find.  They  cast  therefore,  and  now  they  were 
not  able  to  draw  it  for  the  multitude  of  fishes" — See 
what  faith  in  the  words  of  Christ  will  do.  They 
had  toiled  all  night  in  their  own  way,  and  taken 
nothing;  while  in  a  few  moments'  labour,  in 
accordance  with  the  instructions  of  Christ,  and 
lo !  the  net  breaks.  And  when  Jesus  speaks  to  the 
guilty  and  self-condemned  sinner,  tells  him  what 
to  do,  and  gives  him  the  power  to  do  it,  O  what  a 
change  transpires !  and  how  richly  is  he  blessed ! 
and  what  a  shoal  of  blessings  come  pouring  into 
the  soul,  until  the  man  so  favoured  is  compelled  to 
exclaim,  Lord,  it  is  enough !  and  his  little  bark 
is  liable  to  be  wrecked,  not  upon  the  rocks  of 
despair,  but  of  over-much  joy.  Then,  indeed,  is 
fulfilled  the  gracious  declaration,  "  In  that  day 
thou  shalt  say,  O  Lord,  I  will  praise  thee,  though 
thou  wast  angry  with  me :  thine  anger  is  turned 
away,  and  thou  comfortest  me."  And  the  man  so 
favoured  exclaims,  "  I  will  greatly  rejoice  in  the 
Lord,  my  soul  shall  be  joyful  in  my  God ;  for  he 
hath  clothed  me  with  the  garments  of  salvation, 
he  hath  covered  me  with  the  robe  of  righteousness, 
as  a  bridegroom  decketh  himself  with  ornaments, 
arid  as  a  bride  adorneth  herself  with  jewels."  And, 
when  Jesus  teaches  His  servants  how  to  throw  in 
the  gospel  net,  how  great  is  their  success !  And 
how  speedily  do  those  who  have  laboured  for 


22  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

happiness  in  vain  reach  the  spring-head  of  bliss 
when  made  willing  to  take  Him  for  their  guide. 

"  Then  come  all  ye  weary, 

And  ye  heavy  laden, 
Lend  a  glad  ear  to  your  Saviour's  call : 

Fearing  or  grieving, 

Yet  humbly  believing, 
Rest,  rest  to  your  souls  He'll  freely  give  all. 

"  How  easy  His  yoke  is ! 

How  light  is  His  burden ! 
But  what  He  suffered  no  language  can  tell. 

His  grief  in  the  garden, 

To  purchase  our  pardon, 
His  pangs  on  the  cross  to  save  us  from  hell." 

From  the  whole  we  may  learn,  that  all  our 
efforts  in  reference  to  this  world  and  that  which 
is  to  come,  without  the  blessing  and  presence  of 
Christ,  will  only  issue  in  disappointment  and 
sorrow ;  at  the  same  time  that  our  past  failures 
need  not  unduly  discourage  us  if  they  do  but 
lead  us  to  look  more  simply  and  exclusively  to 
Him  who  is  ever  ready  to  instruct  and  bless  His 
people,  and  whose  word  is  sufficient  to  insure  the 
success  of  every  enterprise.  And  while  the  fruit- 
less toil  of  the  past  may  well  humble  us,  it  should 
also  admonish  us,  and  lead  us  not  to  look  to  our- 
selves or  our  circumstances,  not  to  speculate,  but 
obey  Him  who  has  said,  "  Look  unto  me,  and  be 
ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth;  for  I  am 
God,  and  there  is  none  else." 


FRUITLESS  TOIL.  23 

"  Return,  return, 
Poor  long-lost  wanderer,  home ! 

With  all  thy  bitter  tears, 
Thy  heavy  burdens,  come ! 
As  thou  art,  all  sin  and  pain, 
Fear  not  to  implore  in  vain : 
See,  the  Father  comes  to  meet  thee, 

Points  to  mercy's  open  door, 
"Words  of  life  and  promise  greet  thee, 

Oh,  return,  and  weep  no  more  I 

"Return,  return, 
From  all  thy  crooked  ways ! 

Jesus  will  save  the  lost, 
The  fallen  He  can  raise. 
Look  to  Him  who  beckons  thee 
From  the  cross  so  lovingly ; 
See  His  gracious  arm  extended, 

Fear  not  to  seek  shelter  there, 
Where  no  grief  is  unbefriended, 

Where  no  sinner  need  despair. 

"Return,  return  I 
From  all  thy  wanderings,  home ! 

From  vanity  and  toil, 
To  rest  and  substance,  come  I 
Come  to  truth  from  error's  night, 
Come  from  darkness  unto  light, 
Come  from  death  to  life  undying, 

From  a  fallen  earth  to  heaven, — 
Now,  on  Jesus'  grace  relying, 

Haste  to  take  what  God  has  given  1" 


"  Faith  is  the  brightest  evidence 
Of  things  beyond  our  sight ; 
Breaks  through  the  clouds  of  flesh  and  sense, 
And  dwells  in  heavenly  light." 

He  who  believes  the  truth,  shall  realise  the  power  of  truth, 
and,  by  the  work  which  it  does  within,  will  ever  be  guided  to 
its  source  without :  to  HIM  who  is  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and 
the  life. 

*'  You  rely  on  your  instinctive  sense  of  the  beautiful,  as  a  safe 
and  competent  guide,  when  the  question  respects  the  beauty  of 
an  object ;  you  rely  on  your  instinctive  sense  of  the  right,  as  a  fit 
and  adequate  criterion,  when  the  question  relates  to  the  morality 
of  an  action :  and  why  not  equally  trust  to  your  instinctive  feeling 
of  the  true  for  a  sound  and  reliable  verdict  in  reference  to  the 
credibility  of  a  narrative  ?  That  fine  moral  tact,  by  which  we 
distinguish  between  the  genuine  and  spurious,  has  been  styled 
the  antennce  of  the  mind,  and  most  aptly ;  for,  like  antennce,  it 
possesses  a  nicety  of  discrimination,  which  often  renders  it  a  safer 
and  more  certain  guide  than  direct  reasoning.  In  our  reasonings? 
a  false  step  at  tne  commencement  sends  us  far  astray ;  but  in 
gathering  up  the  inductions  of  the  moral  sense,  we  feel  our  path 
as  we  proceed,  and  at  every  step  get  so  much  nearer  to  truth  and 
certainty."  "  The  Life  of  Jesus  its  own  Witness"  By  the  Rev. 
J.  M.  M'CuLLOCH,  D.D. 

"  All  the  profoundest  truths  are  felt  out,  the  deep  glances  into 
truth  are  got  by  LOVE." 


Kimj$i  Jistijlt; 


OR, 

A  GUIDE  TO  FAITH. 


"  The  same  came  to  Jesus  by  night" — John  iii.  2. 

MANY  centuries  ago,  a  timid,  half-doubting  dis- 
ciple, availing  himself  of  the  darkness  of  night, 
issued  forth  from  his  dwelling-place  to  seek  an 
interview  with  the  King  of  kings.  The  darkness 
which  surrounded  his  steps,  as  he  pursued  his  way, 
well  symbolised  the  sable  cloud  which  covered  his 
mind.  Mysteries  there  were  which  excited  his 
anxious  thoughts,  and  drew  his  tardy  steps  towards 
the  great  but  unknown  Teacher  of  Israel. 

A  wonderful  sight  was  presented  to  this  visible 
universe  on  the  night  that  this  inquiring  man 
found  his  way  into  the  presence  of  the  Son  of  God, 
to  give  utterance  to  his  perplexities,  and  fetch 
wisdom  from  the  lips  of  the  despised  Nazarene. 
Strange  that  the  Creator  and  the  created  should 
thus  be  brought  into  visible  converse  with  each 
3 


26  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

other;  that  He  who  dwelleth  in  light  which  no 
man  can  approach  unto, — whom  no  man  hath 
seen,  nor  can  see, — should  so  veil  His  glory  be- 
neath our  nature,  that  a  sinful  man  could  gaze 
upon  His  face,  and  receive  instruction  immediately 
from  His  lips ; — that,  His  greatness  being  equal 
to  our  littleness,  He  should  cover  and  yet  reveal 
Himself  through  our  humanity,  making  it  not 
only  the  temple  of  His  Godhead,  but  the  infallible 
oracle  of  those  Divine  communications  which  alone 
can  guide  the  mind  to  peace  and  rest. 

What  Christian  mind  is  there  which  has  not 
gazed  with  intense  interest  upon  this  scene !  Here 
we  behold  the  great  and  self-existent  Eternal, — 
that  august  Being  whom  the  heaven  of  heavens 
cannot  contain,  whose  omnific  word  spoke  all 
things  into  existence,  and  who  sustains  them  by 
His  almighty  power,  clothed  in  the  robes  of 
human  frailty, — A  MAN  among  the  children  of 
men, — and  so  completely  one  with  us  does  He 
appear,  that  a  poor,  guilty,  erring-  creature  is  not 
afraid  to  approach  Him.  Who  now  shall  say  that 
God  is  unwilling  to  commune  with  man,  or  that 
He  has  left  him,  like  an  orphan,  to  wander  through 
His  universe?  that  He  has  no  concern  for  his  intel- 
lectual and  moral  manhood  ?  Behold  the  fountain 
of  heavenly  wisdom  now  flows  at  his  feet,  and 
pours  forth  its  fruitful  streams  to  purify  and  bless. 
Through  human  lips  God  speaks  to  man,  and 
through  our  finite  words  His  thoughts  distil  like 


THE   MIDNIGHT   DISCIPLE.  27 

the  descending  dew  upon  the  seeking  heart.  Oh, 
favoured  Nicodemus !  privileged  to  hear  the  voice 
which  never  erred,  to  gaze  upon  that  form  which 
heaven  adores ;  to  mark  that  golden  urn  in  which 
God's  mind  lay  hid,  those  moving  lips  from  which 
God's  love  distils  in  words  more  sweet  than  honey 
from  the  melting  comb. 

And  yet  this  man  came  to  Christ  by  night ;  he 
skulked  into  His  presence  like  a  thief;  he  fain 
would  steal  instruction  from  His  lips,  and  take 
the  bread  of  life  by  stealth.  Oh,  shame !  me- 
thinks  his  echoing  steps  might  well  have  waked 
the  dead  to  frown  upon  him  as  he  passed  along, 
the  shadows  of  the  night  refuse  their  aid,  and 
heaven's  own  sun  shoot  forth  his  rays  to  spread 
his  shame.  Ashamed  of  Him  who  left  His  throne 
to  reach  his  heart,  to  take  the  veil  of  darkness 
from  his  mind,  and  pour  the  balm  of  heaven  into 
his  bleeding  wounds !  And  yet  this  man  was  not 
despised,  he  did  not  seek  in  vain.  He  was  not 
harshly  spurned  away ;  his  cowardice  called  forth  no 
frown  upon  the  Saviour's  brow,  nor  did  his  igno- 
rance excite  a  laugh.  The  Teacher  whom  he  sought 
was  great,  and  wise,  and  holy,  and  infallible, — 
and  because  He  was  all  this,  this  timid  scholar 
found  a  Friend,  and  for  the  first  time  heard  the 
greatest  truths  which  ever  fell  from  mortal  lips. 
Like  as  a  little  child  with  trembling  and  uncertain 
steps  strives  to  reach  its  parent's  knees,  or  strug- 
gles to  pronounce  its  parent's  name,  so  doubting 


28  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

and  uncertain  Nicodemus  ventured  forth  to  reach 
the  fountain  of  Eternal  Truth.  He  did  not  find 
that  fountain  closed  because  he  staggered  towards 
it  in  the  dark.  He  was  not  sent  away  without 
one  drop  to  cool  his  feverish  thirst.  He  asked, 
and  he  received  more  than  his  prayers  embraced, 
or  his  poor  finite  mind  could  grasp.  Of  the  great 
Prophet  of  his  people  it  had  been  written,  "  He 
shall  not  break  the  bruised  reed,  nor  quench  the 
smoking  flax."  ISTicodemus  proved  this  promise 
true,  and  by  his  very  fears  and  doubts  instructs 
us, — his  timid  steps  may  guide  us  to  the  Truth. 
It  is  better  to  come  to  Christ  in  darkness  than  not  at 
all.  It  is  sad  to  be  ashamed  of  that  which  fills 
the  angels  with  joy,  to  fear  it  should  be  known 
we  sit  at  Jesus's  feet.  The  argosy  that  would 
return  freighted  with  rich  treasures  from  the  East 
must  pass  through  many  storms,  and  plough  her 
way  through  surging  seas,  not  only  when  the  light 
of  day  falls  on  her  prow,  and  gentle  zephyrs  fill 
her  sails,  but  when  the  night  hangs  up  her  sable 
curtains  o'er  the  sky,  and  the  straining  eye  in  vain 
would  catch  the  smallest  ray  to  cheer  the  dark 
void,  to  guide  the  uncertain  course  over  the  vast, 
mysterious  waste  of  waters.  Would  she  reach 
the  port  of  safety,  "  Onwards,"  must  be  the  cry, — 
mid  storm  and  sunshine,  by  day  and  night ;  and 
so  the  soul  in  quest  of  truth,  though  often  hard 
beset  by  sin,  darkness,  and  temptation,  by  diffi- 
culties which,  like  an  adamantine  chain,  threaten 


THE   MIDNIGHT   DISCIPLE.  29 

to  bind  the  soul  to  the  bleak,  barren  rock  of  un- 
belief, must  still  cry  "Onwards,"  in  faith  and 
prayer,  coming  to  God,  crying  to  Him  for  light ; 
must  still  press  forwards  to  the  great  central 
luminary  of  eternal  truth, — the  Christ  of  God, — 
the  haven's  mouth  of  Deity, — through  which  the 
ocean  of  truth  pours  itself  forth,  to  fertilise  and 
bless  the  soul ; — the  great  Light  fixed  in  the  steady 
heavens  of  God's  Word, — the  Christ  of  God ;  He 
who  is  God,  and  therefore  can  understand  thee, 
seeker  after  truth, — and  succour  thee,  benighted 
traveller,  seeking  for  this  gem ;  despair  not,  for  He 
is  equal  to  all  the  strange,  mysterious  wants  of  thy 
strangely  disordered,  guilty,  and  necessitous  soul, 
— thy  subtle  thoughts, — the  intricate  coil  of  reason- 
ing which  draws  thy  soul  hither  and  thither,  until 
thy  mind,  like  the  troubled  sea,  can  get  no  rest. 
And  He  is  man;  mysterious  truth,  but  true;  and 
He  can  feel  for  the  struggling  soul,  its  pains  and 
weakness,  its  hopes  and  fears.  Oh,  let  thy  soul 
cry  after  Him,  as  cries  the  helpless  infant  for  its 
mother's  breast, — come  thou  to  Him  in  prayer, — 
be  willing  to  be  taught :  in  coming  to  Him  thou 
wilt  find  thy  doubts  forsake  thee, — the  night  of 
unbelief  will  pass  away;  each  prayer,  like  the 
steps  of  Nicodemus  when  he  w;ent  forth  to  seek 
Christ,  will  bring  thee  nearer  to  peace  and 
rest. 

The  very  exercise  of  faith  and  prayer  will  bring 
thee  sublimest  evidence  of  the  divinity  of  Him  at 
3* 


SO  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

whose  feet  thou  dost  sit;  "  For  whosoever  doeth 
the  doctrine  shall  know  that  it  is  of  God."  "  To 
him  that  overeometh,  will  I  give  to  eat  of  the 
hidden  manna;" — give  to  eat,  thus  conquering 
thyself  by  coming  to  Jesus — the  hidden  elements 
of  thy  moral  constitution,  beneath  the  touch  of 
God's  omnipotent  Spirit,  shall  develop  themselves, 
and  thou  shalt  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and 
full  of  glory.  While  pride  and  self  are  thus 
placed  beneath  thy  feet,  the  Holy  Comforter  will 
fill  thy  heart  with  the  honey  of  God's  love,  and 
this  initial  victory  of  thy  infant  faith  shall  be  but 
the  first  of  a  series  which  shall  bring  incontro- 
vertible evidence  of  the  Truth  to  thee,  and  lift 
thee  higher  and  higher,  even  to  the  very  throne  of 
God ;  where,  crowned  with  His  loving-kindness,  a 
son  thyself,  among  His  sons  and  daughters,  thou 
shalt  sing  with  them,  "  Victory,  through  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb !  "  Then,  in  the  clear  sunlight  of 
eternity,  with  eye  undimmed  by  prejudice  or  sin, — 
thou  shalt  see  the  spreading  lines  of  Truth,  no 
longer  dark,  broken,  intricate,  but  converging  each 
to  one  bright  centre — Christ ;  in  whose  glorious 
face  wisdom  shall  still  unveil  herself,  and  still 
enchain  and  ravish  thine  unwearied  spirit,  and 
conduct  thee  to  still  loftier  flights,  while  in  all  the 
soaring  grandeur  of  thy  blissful  and  exalted  des- 
tiny thou  shalt  thyself  appear  as  a  ray  flung  off 
from  the  great  centre  of  Eternal  Truth,  a  marvel- 
lous exponent  of  the  divine  perfections,  upon 


THE   MIDNIGHT   DISCIPLE.  31 

which  even  the  intelligences  of  heaven  shall  look 
with  wonder,  instruction,  and  delight. 

Art  thou,  then,  reader,  willing  thus  to  lose  thy- 
self at  the  feet  of  Christ,  that  thou  mayest  be  truly 
found — willing  to  try  God's  method — to  love  the 
truth  that  thou  mayest  learn  the  truth  ?  God 
commands  thee  thus  to  learn  it,  thus  to  be  satis- 
fied— convinced.  Wilt  thou  pronounce  an  opi- 
nion before  thou  hast  tried  His  prescription  ? 
What  wouldst  thou  think  of  one  who,  while  refus- 
ing properly  to  adjust  an  optical  instrument  to  the 
required  focus,  declared  the  instrument  to  be 
worthless  and  incapable  of  manifesting  the  objects 
which  he  desired  to  behold?  And  what  are  we 
to  think  of  the  honesty  of  those  who,  while  pro- 
fessing to  be  anxious  to  know  the  truth,  will  not 
obey  those  instructions,  through  the  observance  of 
which  it  is  made  to  appear  ?  A  poor  man,  well 
known  to  us,  who  had  wandered  for  many  years 
in  the  mazes  of  infidelity,  on  returning  home  one 
night,  by  chance  opened  his  Bible ;  his  eye  fell 
upon  the  passage,  "  If  any  man  lack  wisdom,  let 
him  ask  of  God,  who  giveth  liberally,  and  up- 
braideth  not."  The  thought  struck  him  that  he 
had  never  complied  with  this  command,  and  he 
thought  he  would  try  it ; — he  prayed,  he  adjusted 
the  instrument  before  he  looked  at  the  object ;  the 
result  was  conviction,  rest,  peace, — he  became  a 
Christian. 

ts  the  reader  perplexed  as  to  the  truth  ?  turn, 


32  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

then,  for  a  time,  from  the  schools  of  disputation : 
see  here  a  more  excellent  way ; — practise  the  truth 
and  believe  it, — believe  it,  and  thou  wilt  love  it. 
A  poor,  illiterate  countryman  knows  more  of 
natural  life,  by  the  regular  performance  of  the 
functions  of  life,  than  the  angels  who  are  not  so 
incarnated  in  flesh  and  blood,  however  great 
their  reasoning  powers,  or  transcendent  their 
celestial  logic.  And  so,  reader,  in  coming  by 
prayer  to  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and  seeking  for  di- 
vine help  to  conform  thyself  to  His  words,  thy 
mind  will  gain  more  light,  and  thy  heart  more 
rest,  than  all  thy  reasoning  can  bring.  Be  mo- 
dest, then — rise  and  obey. 

In  Thee  my  heart,  0  Jesus,  finds  repose ; 

Thou  bringest  rest  to  all  that  weary  are. 
Until  that  day-spring  from  on  high  arose, 
I  wandered  through  a  night  without  a  star  • 
My  feet  had  gone  astray 
Upon  a  lonely  way : 

Each  guide  I  followed  failed  me  in  my  need ; 
Each  staff  I  leaned  on  proved  a  broken  reed. 

Then,  when  in  mine  extremity  to  Thee 

I  turned.  Thy  pity  did  prevent  my  prayer ; 
From  that  entangling  maze  it  set  me  free, 
And  quickly  loosed  my  heavy  load  of  care  ; 
Gave  me  the  lofty  scope 
Of  a  heaven-centred  hope, 
And  led  me  on  with  Thee,  a  gentle  guide, 
Thither,  where  pure  immortal  joys  abide. 

Thou  art  the  great  completion  of  my  soul, 
The  blest  fulfilment  of  its  deepest  need ; 


THE   MIDNIGHT   DISCIPLE.  33 

"When  self-surrendered  to  Thy  mild  control, 
It  enters  into  liberty  indeed : 

Thy  love,  a  genial  law, 

Its  every  aim  doth  draw 
Within  its  holy  range,  and  sweetly  lure 
Its  longings  toward  the  beautiful  and  pure. 

Thy  presence  is  the  never-failing  spring 

Of  life  and  comfort  in  each  darker  hour ; 
And,  through  Thy  grace  benignly  ministering, 
Grief  wields  a  secret,  purifying  power. 
'Tis  sweet,  0  Lord,  to  know 
Thy  kindredness  with  woe  ; 
'  Sweeter  to  walk  with  Thee  on  ways  apart, 
Than  with  the  world,  where  heart  is  shut  to  heart. 

For  Thee  eternity  reserves  her  hymn ; 

For  Thee  earth  has  her  prayers,  and  heaven  her  vows 
Thy  saints  adore  Thee,  and  the  seraphim, 
Under  Thy  glory,  stoop  their  starry  brows. 
Oh,  may  that  light  divine 
On  me  still  clearer  shine — 
A  power,  an  inspiration  from  above, 
Lifting  me  higher  to  Thy  perfect  love ! 

JAMES  D.  BURNS. 


11  Saviour  Prince  1  enthroned  above, 

Repentance  to  impart ; 
Give  me,  through  Thy  dying  love, 

The  humble  contrite  heart. 
Give,  what  I  have  long  implored, 

A  portion  of  Thy  love  unknown : 
Turn  and  look  upon  me,  Lord, 

And  break  my  heart  of  stone." 

"  How  adorable  is  that  grace  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ,  which 
hath  not  only  given  us  the  doctrine  of  repentance,  but  by  His 
Spirit  gives  the  very  grace  itself!  He  puts  no  trust  in  our  own 
powers  of  understanding,  will,  affections,  natural  conscience, 
reason,  or  morality ;  but  only  in  His  own  Spirit  and  grace  in 
His  Son.  Nor  doth  He  accept  our  repentance  upon  its  worth, 
value,  and  perfection ;  but  wraps  it  up  in  the  rich  robes  of  the 
righteousness  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  so  it  is  pleasing  in 
His  sight.  So  He  does  not  lessen  or  derogate  from  the  gracious- 
ness  of  His  Gospel  in  imposing  such  a  duty,  but  He  magnifies  it, 
by  giving  so  high  and  admirable  a  grace  and  divine  power 
within  us."— Psa.  Ixxx.  3;  Job  xv.  15;  Jer.  xxxi.  18,  19. 

BBVEELEY. 


fjrefaok  of  tfjrist; 

OB, 

HOW  TO  KEPENT. 


"  And  the  Lord  turned  and  looked  upon  Peter.     And 
Peter  went  out  and  wept  bitterly."  —  Luke  xxii.  61,  62. 


what  a  look  was  that  !  The  eye  has  told 
much,  eloquently,  and  well;  but  never,  amid  all 
the  tragic  scenes  of  this  world's  history,  did  it 
ever  tell  out  a  tale  so  full  of  love  and  sorrow  as 
now.  No  words  could  ever  have  uttered  half  so 
well  what  the  eye  of  Christ  so  silently  looked  into 
the  heart  of  his  faithless  but  still  loving  disciple. 
This  impulsive  man  had  once  asked  leave  of  his 
Lord  to  walk  towards  Him  on  the  bosom  of  the 
sea,  and  but  for  the  strong  hand  of  the  Saviour 
would  have  been  drowned;  and  now,  like  a 
loving  but  inexperienced  child,  he  has  followed 
the  Redeemer  to  the  very  margin  of  the  dreadful 
storm  about  to  burst  upon  his  head,  and  a  few  of 
its  drops  having  fallen  upon  His  spirit,  under  the 


36  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

influence  of  terror  and  with  oaths  and  curses  he 
denies  his  Lord. 

And  what  will  the  Saviour  do  ?  He  stands  in 
the  midst  of  an  infuriated  throng ;  His  body  is 
still  crimsoned  over  with  the  bloody  sweat  which 
His  anguish  in  the  garden  had  pressed  from  His 
pores;  He  is  gradually  approaching  the  dread 
climax  of  His  grief;  the  savage  yells  of  men 
thirsting  for  His  blood  fill  His  ears ;  the  crown 
of  thorns  is  near ;  His  spirit  is  already  crucified ; 
a  dark  cloud  is  coming  over  the  face  of  His  God, 
as  He  is  about  to  pay  into  the  hands  of  divine 
Justice  the  dread  price  which  is  to  secure  the 
salvation  of  myriads.  Under  such  circumstances, 
can  anything  but  His  great  work  arrest  His  atten- 
tion ?  "With  a  heart  thus  surcharged  with  grief, 
at  such  a  time,  can  He  even  for  a  moment  turn 
away  from  Himself?  Sinking  in  deep  waters, 
can  He  look  away  from  them  ?  Yes.  He  hears  a 
voice,  oaths,  and  curses!  He  sees  a  timid  sheep 
rushing  towards  the  burning  lake,  and,  with  the 
very  dogs  of  hell  seeking  to  tear  His  flesh,  He 
goes  forth  to  the  rescue — "He  turned  and  looked 
upon  Peter"  Well,  what  of  that?  He  looked 
upon  others ;  yes,  but  they  saw  nothing.  There 
was  meaning  in  His  look.  Peter  had  seen  those 
eyes  before ;  he  had  beheld  them  beaming  love 
and  mercy  upon  the  poor  and  wretched,  and 
filled  with  tears  by  the  unbelief  of  His  people ; — 
he  knew  they  had  watched  for  him  when  he 


THE   LOOK  OF  CHRIST.  37 

slept;  he  had  studied  their  utterances  through 
many  a  changing  scene ;  they  had  been  welcome 
to  him  as  the  light  of  heaven,  and  he  had  never 
seen  them  reflect  aught  but  purity  and  love ;  and 
hence  their  influence  over  his  soul, — he  wept. 
Ah !  well  he  might ;  the  eyes  of  Jesus  filled  his 
eyes  with  tears;  oh,  what  a  tale  of  ill-requited 
love  they  poured  into  his  bursting  heart ! 

But  Jesus  "  turned  and  looked."  Ah  Peter ! 
thou  didst  sadly  fall ;  but,  bad  as  thou  wast,  thou 
couldst  not  deny  thy  Lord  to  His  face.  His  back 
was  towards  thee  doubtless,  but  not  His  heart ; 
and  hence  when  He  hears  thy  voice,  though  but  to 
deny  Him,  He  will  turn  and  look.  He  knew  it 
would  be  enough ;  He  had  but  to  look,  and  thou 
must  weep.  He  felt  thy  heart  was  near  to  His, 
though  oaths  were  upon  thy  lips.  He  knew  the 
pangs  which  thy  words  brought  to  His  heart 
would  seize  upon  thy  own,  and  He  had  only  to 
look  to  bring  them  forth.  Peter  had  heard  the 
lips  of  Christ  speak  eloquently  ;  but  oh,  the  mean- 
ing this  look  of  Christ  brought  to  his  heart  now 
that  he  had  proved  false  to  his  better  self  and  his 
Lord! 

"He  wept."  Ah,  yes,  those  eyes  brought  to 
his  mind  the  day  when  first  they  smiled  a  wel- 
come as  he  forsook  all  to  follow  Christ,  and  quick- 
ened memory  to  think  of  what  he  had  said : 
"Lord,  I  am  willing  to  go  with  Thee  both  to 
prison  and  to  death." 

1 


38  LESSONS   FHOM  JESUS. 

He  "  wept  bitterly. "  Ah,  well  he  might.  Those 
eyes, — oh,  what  reproof,  what  cowardice,  what 
base  ingratitude,  he  saw  reflected  there ; — him- 
self! what  more  could  he  need  to  add  bitters  to 
his  tears  ?  He  thought  upon  the  past, — oh,  what 
a  past !  what  numerous  kindnesses  !  what  proofs 
of  love  !  what  pity  and  patience !  Yet  there  he 
stands,  that  loving,  faithful  Friend ;  lone,  sad, 
neglected,  and  despised ;  and,  alas !  denied  by 
him !  0  memory !  awaked  by  the  hand  of  love, 
how  many  and  how  bitter  are  the  griefs  thou 
bringest  to  a  sinner's  heart !  How  painful  to 
count  up  the  favours  of  a  Friend  despised  ! 

"He  looked"  Yes,  and  there  was  sorrow  in 
his  eyes,  ah,  how  deep !  They  seemed  to  speak 
and  say,  Is  this  thy  kindness  to  thy  friend  ?  My 
heart  is  deeply  pierced  just  now ;  must  you  too 
make  a  wound  ?  My  foes  are  strong  and  many  ; 
will  you  too  lend  them  aid  ?  They  are  about  to 
crucify  me  ;  will  you  too  drive  the  nails  ?  See, 
here's  my  brow  ;  must  it  have  thorns  from  you  ? — 
and  "  Peter  wept."  That  look  made  him  a  man 
of  sorrows,  and  in  the  secret  chambers  of  his  soul, 
henceforth,  whenever  he  shall  look  within,  he 
will  see  that  Man  whom  he  denied. — who  in  the 
silent  majesty  of  His  awful  grief,  as  there  He 
stands,  still  looks  upon  him,  and,  as  often  as  He 
looks,  bids  him  to  weep. 

And  there  was  love,  too,  in  this  look.  Ah! 
:.but  for  this  poor  Peter  must  have  died.  It  was 


THE   LOOK   OF   CHRIST.  39 

as  though  the  eyes  of  Jesus  said,  "  What !  is  this 
from  thee  ?  Peter — my  child — from  thee  ?  What, 
thou,  my  own  Peter !  Ah,  well,  I  hate  thy  sin, 
but  love  thee  still ;  and  still  to  save  thee.  I  will 
die."  Oh,  had  there  not  been  love  in  the  heart 
of  Jesus,  He  would  not  have  looked  ;  and  had  not 
Peter  perceived  that  gaze,  he  never  would  have 
wept.  The  eyes  of  Jesus  looked  into  his  soul, 
and  from  its  secret  depths  welled  forth  the  fruitful 
streams  of  tenderness  and  sorrow  for  his  sin. 

And  nothing  but  the  love  of  Christ  will  melt 
the  heart.  Eepentance  gushes  from  the  heart  of 
Christ,  lives  neath  the  beamings  of  His  eyes,  and 
grows  beneath  the  shadow  of  His  cross.  Eeader, 
is  repentance  thine  ?  remember  that  without  it  all 
must  perish.  How  important,  then,  that  thou 
shouldst  look  upon  Him  whom  thou  hast  pierced, 
and  mourn  ;  but  let  us  not  forget  that  the  love  of 
Christ  will  single  out  its  own,  though  in  a  crowd 
and  bound  by  sin.  If,  therefore,  thou  hast  been 
led  to  mourn  over  and  forsake  thy  sin,  then  be 
encouraged, — Jesus  has  looked  upon  thee,  even 
as  He  did  upon  Peter;  and  be  admonished  by 
the  fall  of  this  great  Apostle.  Beware  of  leaning 
to  thy  own  strength,  and  look  constantly  to  Jesus 
to  finish  the  work  which  His  own  grace  has  com- 
menced. 


40  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

Jesus  have  I  ever  wept  ? 

Has  my  heart  Thy  sorrows  felt  ? 
Has  indeed  Thy  love  revealed 

Made  this  selfish  heart  to  melt  ? 
Have  I  ever  gazed  on  Thee, 
Sorrowing  in  Gethsemane  ? 


Gazed,  0  Lord,  I  often  have, 
Cold  and  lifeless,  I  must  own ; 

But,  0  Lord,  Thy  word  declares, 

All  thy  saints  shall  gaze  and  mourn,  - 

Mourn  and  weep  while  viewing  Thee, 

Sorrowing  in  Gethsemane. 


True  it  is  I  often  weep, 

And  as  oft  miptrust  each  tear, 

So  deceitful  is  my  heart, 
That,  0  Jesus,  oft  I  fear 

I  have  ne'er  by  faith  viewed  Thee 

Sorrowing  in  Gethsemane. 


Here  I  would  not  be  deceived, 
Lord,  my  life  is  in  this  plea ; 

For  I  know  Thy  saints  redeemed, 
Each  and  all  in  this  agree, 

Fellowship  they  have  with  Thee, 

Sorrowing  in  Gethsemane. 


Knowledge  merely,  too,  is  vain ; 

All  Thy  chosen  people  sip 
From  thy  dolorous  cup  of  woe, 

That  they  may  esteem  the  bliss 
Flowing,  holy  Lord,  from  Thee, 
Sorrowing  in  Gethsenume. 


THE   LOOK   OF   CHRIST. 

'Tis  for  this,  0  Lord,  I  seek  ; 

Short  of  this  I  would  not  rest  ; 
This,  arid  this  alone,  can  prove 

That  my  soul  in  Thee  is  blest, 
Chosen,  known,  and  loved  of  Thee, 
Sorrowing  in  Gethsemane. 


Many  sights  men  love  below 

Grieve,  pollute,  and  pain  the  eye  ; 

But  there  is  a  sight  I  know, 
Which  can  raise  and  purify,  — 

'Tis  to  gaze,  0  Lord,  on  Thee, 

Sorrowing  in  Gethsemane. 

Here  it  is  my  soul  would  dwell, 
Gaze,  and  wonder,  and  adore, 

Lost  as  in  a  sea  of  love, 

Bottomless,  without  a  shore, 

Weeping,  gazing,  Lord,  on  Thee, 

Sorrowing  in  Gethsemane. 


This  alone  I  know  can  break, 
Thaw,  and  melt  the  rocky  heart, 

Free  me  from  the  reign  of  sin, 
Holy  peace  and  joy  impart, 

Sealed  by  faith  as  one  with  Thee, 

Sorrowing  in  Gethsemane. 


4  He  that  lacks  time  to  mourn,  lacks  time  to  mend : 
Eternity  mourns  that.     'Tis  an  ill  cure 
For  life's  worst  ills  to  have  no  time  to  feel  them. 
Where  sorrow's  held  intrusive,  and  turned  out. 
There  wisdom  will  not  enter,  nor  true  power, 
Nor  aught  that  dignifies  humanity." 


nsert  f  to ; 


OB, 


THE  TEST  OF  DISCIPLESHIP. 


"  And  he  said  unto  them,  Come  ye  yourselves  apart  into  a 
desert  place,  and  rest  awhile :  for  there  were  many  coming  and 
going,  and  they  had  no  leisure  so  much  as  to  eat." — Mark 
vi.  31. 

ALL  the  incidents  in  the  life  of  Christ  are  preg- 
nant with  instruction.  His  whole  life  is,  indeed, 
a  beautiful  panorama  of  moral  beauty  and  spiritual 
loveliness.  He  speaks,  and  we  are  enlightened ; 
He  moves,  and  we  are  instructed.  No  life  like 
His ;  and  happy  the  man  who  is  so  familiar  with 
it,  that  each  scene  of  which  He  is  the  centre  object 
has  been  photographed  upon  his  mind  by  the 
Spirit  of  God, — whose  memory  has  become  a 
chamber,  the  walls  of  which  are  overspread  with 
pictures  from  the  life  of  Jesus,  hung  up  by  the 
fingers  of  omnipotent  Love,  for  the  purification  of 
the  affections,  and  the  illustration  of  important 


44  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

principles.  Well  would  it  be  for  us  to  imitate  the 
enthusiastic  connoisseur,  who  spares  neither  labour 
nor  money  to  procure  all  the  paintings  of  his 
favourite  master  ;  and  seek  to  have  our  minds  so 
impressed  with  every  incident  in  the  history  of 
Christ,  that  wherever  we  sojourn,  there  might  be 
within  us  a  spiritual  gallery  of  illustration,  to 
which  we  could  constantly  repair  for  meditation. 
Observe,  believer,  the  man  of  taste,  the  lover  of 
art,  how  carefully  he  selects  those  articles  of  vertu 
to  which  his  predilections  attach  value  ;  the  anti- 
quary, too,  see  how  he  burrows  among  rubbish, 
both  by  night  and  day,  hoping  to  discover  some 
relic  which  may  illustrate  his  lore,  and  assist  his 
inquiries  after  truth.  Let  us  imitate  them ;  and 
let  our  spiritual  taste  and  education  appear  in  a 
constant  study  of  the  inspired  biography  of  Him 
who  is  "  the  altogether  lovely."  From  it  may  we 
get  materials  to  adorn  our  conduct,  and  facts  for 
the  confirmation  of  our  faith.  May  we  ever 
remember,  that  Christ  is  the  diamond  stone  of 
truth,  upon  which  the  law  is  engraven ;  and  seek  to 
have  it  set  permanently  in  our  affections,  that  we 
may  walk  correctly  in  the  light  which  it  emits, 
and  our  lives  become  attractive  exponents  of  its 
beauty  and  power. 

We  need  not  dwell  upon  the  literal  bearing  of 
the  fact  above  recorded,  but  shall  proceed  to  make 
use  of  it  to  our  spiritual  advantage. 

The  religion  of  Christ  is  altogether  a  practical 


A  DESERT  PLACE.  45 

religion — a  religion  of  life  and  influence.  The 
very  first  step  we  take  under  its  direction  in- 
volves an  act  of  Divine  power,  and  is  expressive 
of  spiritual  perception,  feeling,  and  decision  on 
the  part  of  ourselves.  Had  our  Saviour  taught 
men  that  they  could  follow  Him  in  silver  slippers 
and  gay  attire,  retaining  the  friendship  of  the 
world,  and  leaning  upon  its  help  as  well  as  his 
own,  He  would  have  had  many  disciples;  but 
because  He  pointed  them  to  a  desert,  lying  be- 
tween this  world  arid  that  which  is  to  come,  held 
out  to  them  but  little  to  encourage  them  which 
perverted  reason  could  approve,  and  called  upon 
them  to  count  the  cost  before  they  commenced 
the  journey,  numbers  are  driven  back,  and  there 
are  but  few  of  whom  He  could  say,  "  Ye  are 
they  which  have  continued  with  Me  in  My  temp- 
tation." And  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  Christ,  so 
is  it  now ;  many  would  like  to  reach  the  pro- 
mised land  above,  and  to  eat  of  its  delectable 
fruits,  but  the  wilderness  which  must  be  passed 
turns  them  aside ;  nor  is  the  promise  that  Jesus 
will  accompany  them,  and  give  them  the  victory, 
sufficient  to  induce  them  to  go  forward.  The 
words  of  Christ  never  fail,  but  they  cannot 
simply  venture  upon  them ;  and  their  faith  is 
shown  to  be  worthless,  by  its  being  conquered  by 
sense.  Thus  all  who  hear  the  Gospel  of  Christ 
are  by  Him  tried,  and  their  true  state  declared. 
His  language  is  too  simple  to  be  misunderstood ; 


46  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

He  deceives  not  by  fair  speeches,  nor  hides  the 
rough  features  of  the  path  of  life  in  a  blaze  of 
rhetorical  splendour.  To  all  who  essay  to  follow 
Him,  He  says,  "If  any  man  will  come  after  Me, 
let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross  daily 
and  follow  Me."  True  it  is,  He  also  points  to  a 
throne  and  a  crown  ;  but  the  dreaded  cross  hides 
their  lustre,  and  the  fear  of  a  desert  place  in  their 
circumstances  drives  many  back  again  to  the 
world,  who,  for  a  time,  seemed  to  promise  well 
for  the  kingdom  of  God.  And  this,  indeed,  will 
ever  be  the  course  pursued  by  those  whose  first 
movements  towards  heaven  proceed  from  mere 
excitement  or  impulse,  and  not  from  that  faith 
which  works  by  love,  and  leads  those  in  whom 
it  is  implanted  to  cleave  to  Christ  as  their  portion,  ^ 
and  to  follow  Him  through  evil  report  and  good 
report,  whithersoever  He  may  lead. 

But  does  this  meet  the  eye  of  one  who  has  thus 
turned  His  back  on  Jesus,  and  refused  to  follow 
Him,  because  it  was  feared  the  path  might  lead  to 
a  desert  place  ?  What !  and  is  this  desert  place, 
which,  perhaps,  after  all,  may  be  but  the  creation  ' 
of  thy  fears,  more  dreadful  than  the  frown  of 
God?  Is  it  more  bleak  than  the  confines  of 
despair  ?  more  terrible  than  His  wrath  who  has 
said,  "  But  if  smy  man  draw  back,  My  soul  shall 
have  no  pleasure  in  him  ?"  Is  it,  indeed,  more 
barren  than  the  burning  lava  of  hell,  less  prolific 
in  comfort  than  the  stings  of  a  guilty  conscience, 


A   DESERT   PLACE.  47 

the  death-bed  of  an  apostate,  or  the  regions  of 
darkness  destined  to  be  the  final  dwelling-place 
of  all  who  are  ashamed  of  Christ,  and  who, 
while  they  would  have  the  crown  He  gives, 
despise  His  cross  ?  Oh,  think  again  before  you 
forsake  Him  of  whose  people  it  is  written,  "  That 
the  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  shall  be  glad 
f6r  them,  and  the  desert  shall  rejoice  and  blossom 
as  the  rose."  What!  shun  a  desert  place  with 
Him  of  whom  it  is  written,  that  His  smile  turns 
"  the  shadow  of  death  into  the  morning !"  What ! 
refuse  to  follow  Him  who  forsook  the  paradise 
above,  to  traverse  the  cold  desert  of  this  world, 
to  seek  and  to  save  His  wandering  sheep ;  who 
watered  His  path  with  His  tears,  and,  that  we 
might  not  perish,  marked  out  the  path  of  safety 
with  His  own  blood !  Oh,  blush  for  shame,  ye 
timid  disciples,  who,  like  Peter,  often  follow  the 
Lord  "afar  off;"  and  ye  who  have  turned  your 
backs  upon  Him,  oh,  return !  Hear  the  kind 
accents  of  His  voice  once  more,  oh,  ye  wander- 
ers !  "  Return,  thou  backsliding  Israel,"  said  the 
Lord,  "  and  I  will  not  cause  mine  anger  to  fall  on 
you ;  for  I  am  merciful,  saith  the  Lord,  and  I 
will  not  keep  anger  for  ever." 

Jesus,  then,  invites  His  disciples  occasionally  to 
accompany  Him  into  a  desert.  And  how  much 
better  to  be  in  a  desert  place  with  Him,  than  in 
a  palace  without  Him ;  to  have  a  poor  table  with 
Him  for  a  guest,  than  a  rich  one  if  Pie  is  absent. 


48  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

But  if  Jesus  invites  His  disciples  to  follow  Him 
into  a  desert  place,  He  ever  leads  the  way ;  and 
why  does  He  conduct  His  disciples  into  such  a 
locality  ? 

"  There  were  many  coming  and  going,  and  they 
had  not  leisure  so  much  as  to  eat"  Ah,  this  is  it ; 
there  are  so  many  coming  and  going  around  us — 
too  frequently  such  a  crowd  of  worldly  persons 
and  things — that  the  still  small  voice  of  Jesus 
cannot  be  heard  for  the  noise ;  and  hence  it  is, 
that  the  disciple  often  finds  aa  desert  place"  in  a 
chamber  of  sickness  and  sorrow.  Why,  it  was 
needful :  we  could  not  find  time,  so  Jesus  would 
make  time  for  us ;  for  there  must  be  a  cessation 
from  worldly  toil,  sufficient  at  least  to  eat  and 
digest  our  spiritual  provisions — to  think,  to  medi- 
tate, to  pray.  There  must  be  times  of  separation 
from  the  world;  periods  of  holy  solitude,  when 
the  truth  of  the  gracious  declaration  is  realised :. 
"If  a  man  love  Me,  he  will  keep  my  words,  and 
my  Father  will  love  him,  and  We  will  come  to 
him,  and  make  our  abode  with  him." 

Thus  the  solitude  of  the  desert  is  required  by 
the  true  disciple  that  he  may  eat  and  drink  with 
Christ ;  that  he  may  enjoy  sweet  and  holy  inter- 
course with  Him ;  that  he  may  receive  especial 
tokens  of  His  love;  and  that  his  faith  may  be 
increased  in  His  all-sufficiency,  faithfulness,  and 
care.  For  while  false  faith,  like  an  exotic,  dies 
amid  the  pinching  blasts  of  adversity,  true  faith 


A   DESERT   PLACE.  49 

is  often  nourished  by  the  storms  which  beat  upon 
it,  and  never  appears  more  green  and  strong  than 
when  it  shoots  forth  amid  the  winter  of  tribula- 
tion. In  the  desolation,  too,  of  a  desert  place, 
how  sweet  are  the  words  of  Jesus :  words  which, 
in  times  of  prosperity  and  ease,  have  been  over- 
looked, are  now  pondered  over,  again  and  again, 
until  their  important  lessons  become  engraven  on 
the  memory.  The  promises  which  before  seemed 
to  be  closed  against  the  soul's  embrace,  now  open 
their  breasts  of  consolation,  for,  the  mind  being 
sufficiently  humbled,  consolation  can  now  be 
safely  imparted.  Oh,  how,  in  the  midst  of  the 
thick  darkness  of  a  desert  place,  do 'the  precious 
promises  of  Jesus  sparkle  like  jewels  before  the 
eye  of  faith ;  and  the  Word  of  God,  which 
seemed  so  barren  before,  now  appears  like  an 
orchard  full  of  delectable  fruits.  But  not  only 
are  the  words  of  Christ  seen,  redolent  with  mean- 
ing, nourishment,  and  beauty,  but  Christ  Himself. 
When  surrounded  by  the  gay  flowers  of  pros- 
perity, luxury,  and  pride,  the  rose  of  Sharon 
attracts  but  a  passing  glance.  It  is  in  the  solitude 
and  silence  of  a  desert  place,  that  it  commands 
the  closest  attention;  and  when  its  hidden  beau- 
ties are  discovered,  how  welcome  is  its  sweet  fra- 
grance to  revive  and  invigorate  the  soul.  It  is 
said  of  a  certain  great  orator,  that  he  dug  a  hole  ' 
in  the  earth  in  which  to  study,  that  his  attention 
might  not  be  distracted  from  the  object  of  his 
5 


50  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

pursuit  by  external  objects.  And  though  the 
Lord  does  not  communicate  grace  to  His  disciples 
to  make  them  anchorites,  yet  does  He  often  iso- 
late His  people  that  He  may  impart  such  instruc- 
tion as  they  will  not  easily  forget.  A  desert  \ 
place,  of  itself,  however,  is  of  no  service  to  the  \ 
believer.  The  presence  of  Jesus  must  light  up 
the  scene,  and  His  words  must  fall  like  dew  upon 
the  heart,  through  the  gracious  influence  of  the 
Holy  Comforter,  in  order  to  the  soul's  being  pro- 
fited. In  every  desert  spo.t,  therefore,  in  our 
experience,  may  we  ever  seek  for  the  presence  of 
Christ — a  favour  never  denied  to  those  who 
seek  earnestly  and  in  faith.  This  realised,  good 
will  be  accomplished  in  us  and  by  us;  for  no 
place  is  so  barren  but  that  we  may  be  blessed, 
and  made  a  blessing.  Pride  will  be  more  com- 
pletely subdued  ;  self  increasingly  crucified ;  fel- 
lowship with  a  suffering  Saviour  realised ;  His 
tender  and  loving  spirit  will  be  imparted  ;  while 
from  these  lowlands  of  famine  and  spiritual  desti- 
tution, our  steps  will  be  quickened  towards  our 
Father's  house,  where  there  is  ever  bread  enough 
and  to  spare — where  our  sun  shall  no  more  go 
down,  and  the  days  of  our  sorrow  will  cease. 

Let  not,  then,  the  believer  be  surprised  should  \ 
his  Lord  conduct  him  into  a  desert  place  to  test  1 
his  integrit}^  and  prove  his  love ;  for  thus  it  was 
that  the  Lord  led  His  disciples  of  old;    and  of. 
Abraham  it  is  written,  that  "  after  he  was  tried  h'e 


A   DESERT   PLACE.  51 

received  the  promise."  And  let  not  the  disciple 
who  may  be  occupying  a  desert  place  now,  forget 
that  the  Lord  can  make  even  it  a  fruitful  spot: 
fraught  with  the  most  hallowed  enjoyment  of 
Himself,  and  pregnant  with  the  most  divine  in- 
structions which  sanctify  the  soul  and  fit  it  for  a 
paradise  above.  And  let  those  from  whose  path, 
in  temporal  things,  at  least,  a  desert  place  seems 
at  present  to  be  far  away,  remember,  that  if  the 
heart  becomes  cold,  and  the  Lord  forgotten ;  that 
if  their  engagements  become  so  multiplied  that 
they  have  but  little  time  and  less  disposition  to 
find  a  secret  place  for  communion  with  Him  whom 
they  profess  to  love  and  serve,  that  the  Lord,  who 
is  jealous  of  His  glory,  and  concerned  for  their 
welfare,  will  be  sure,  sooner  or  later,  to  make  a 
desert  place  for  them,  where  they  shall  have  to 
mourn  their  folly,  and  find  time  for  those  acts  of 
devotion  which  are  essential  to  their  spiritual 
health  and  comfort:  for  still  it  is  a  truth,  "  That 
whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth,  and  scourgeth 
every  son  whom  He  receiveth."  And  ye  secret 
disciples,  whom  wealth  and  respectability,  it  may 
be,  have  held  back  from  a  public  profession  of 
the  Lord,  and  a  visible  identification  of  yourselves 
with  His  humble  people,  beware,  lest  He  who  led 
His  disciples  into  a  desert  place  of  old,  should  send 
a  rough  blast  from  the  wilderness  of  tribulation  to 
remove  your  golden  impediments,  to  sweep  away 
your  conventional  difficulties,  and  td  make  you 


52  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

as  unmistakable  in  the  public  exhibition  of  your 
love  to  Him,  as  is  His  determination  to  be  glori- 
fied in  the  conduct  of  all  whom  He  saves. 

BY   THE   EEY.    HORATIUS  BONAR,    D.D. 

"  Far  down  the  ages,  now,  her  journey  well-nigh  done, 
The  pilgrim  Church  pursues  her  way,  in  haste  to  reach  the 

crown. ' 

The  story  of  the  past  comes  up* before  her  view; 
How  well  it  seems  to'  suit  her  still — old,  and  yet  ever  new. 

'Tis  the  same  story  still  of  sin  and  weariness, 

Of  grace  and  love  still  flowing  down  to  pardon  and  to  bless ; 

'Tis  the  old  sorrow  still — the  briar  and  the  thorn — 

And  'tis  the  same  old  solace  yet — the  hope  of  coming  morn. 

No  wider  is  the  gate,  no  broader  is  the  way, 

No  smoother  is  the  ancient  path  that  leads  to  light  and  day, 

No  lighter  is  the  load  beneath  whose  weight  we  cry, 

No  tamer  grows  the  rebel  flesh,  nor  less  our  enemy. 

No  sweeter  is  the  cup,  'nor  less  our  lot  of  ill  ; 
'Twas  tribulation  ages  since,  'tis  tribulation  still; 
No  greener  are  the  rocks,  no  fresher  flow  the  rills, 
No  roses  in  the  wilds  appear,  no  vines  ypon  the  hills. 

Still  dark  the  sky  above,  and  sharp  the  desert  air ; 
'Tis  wide,  bleak  desolation  round,  and  shadow  everywhere ; 
Dawn  lingers  on  yon  cliff,  but  0,  how  slow  to  spring ! 
Morning  still  nestles  on  yon  wave,  afraid  to  try  its  wing. 

No  slacker  grows  the  fight,  no  feebler  is  the  foe, 

Nor  less  the  need  of  armour  tried,  of  shield,  and  spear,  and 

bow; 

Nor  less  we  feel  the  blank  of  earth's  still  absent  King, 
"Whose  presence  is  of  all  our  bliss  the  everlasting  spring. 


A   DESERT   PLACE.  53 

Thus  onward  still  we  press,  through  evil  and  through  good — 
Through   pain   and   povert}7-,  and  want — through   peril   and 

through  blood; 

Still  faithful  to  our  God,  and  to  our  Captain  true ; 
We  follow  where  He  leads  the  way,  the  kingdom  in  our  view." 

5* 


Take  no  denial  from  the  lips  of  love, 
Nor  think  that  silence  is  a  proof  of  hate, 

For  Jesus  tries  the  faith  he  means  to  bless; 
Be  patient,  then,  and  at  His  feet  still  wait. 

"But  what,  on  second  thought,  are  these  merits?  Jeremy 
Taylor  tells  us,  in  his  life  of  Christ :  Nothing  but  the  innumer- 
able sins  which  we  have  added  to  what  we  have  received.  For 
we  can  call  nothing  ours,  but  such  things  as  we  are  ashamed  to 
own,  and  such  things  as  are  apt  to  ruin  us.  Everything  besides 
is  the  gift  of  God ;  and  for  a  man  to  exalt  himself  thereon  is  just 
as  if  a  wall  on  which  the  sun  reflects  should  boast  itself  against 
another  that  stands  in  the  shadow." 

"All  that  Antinomianism  which  the  orthodox  preachers  of 
free  grace  are  falsely  charged  with  lies  here,  because  they  main- 
tain that  the  first  thing  a  convinced  sinner  is  to  eye,  on  his 
turning  to  God,  is  the  free  grace  and  mercy  of  God  in  Christ 
for  the  pardon  of  sin.  Evangelical  conviction  leads  hiiri  to  a 
reliance  upon  Christ,  in  some  degree,  of  saving  faith  for  the  par- 
don of  all  his  sins ;  and  this  faith  begets  in  him  a  secret  hope 
of  pardon,  and  is  the  spring  of  all  after  sanctification,  namely,  of 
mortification,  of  sin,  of  repentance,  and  of  all  new  obedience.  Let 
this  be  remembered,  as  the  main  thing  we  contend  about,  that 
we  begin  our  religion  at  the  grace  of  God,  and  do  not  think  to 
ground  our  faith  in  Christ  upon  any  legal  preparations  or  works 
of  our  own."  (Tit.  iii.  5,  6.)  COLE. 


oro; 


OR, 


THE  SUCCESSFUL  APPLICANT. 


"  And  she  said,  Truth,  Lord  :  Yet  the  dogs  eat  of  the  crumbs 
which  fall  from  their  masters1  table" — Matt.  xv.  27. 

WE  have  often  been  struck  with  the  love  and 
courage  of  Dr.  Kane  and  his  party,  as  recorded  in 
his  arctic  explorations :  travelling  mile  after  mile, 
dragging  a  sledge  with  them  over  wastes  of  snow, 
that  they  might  plant  their  caches  of  pemmican 
and  other  provisions ;  that  so,  if  the  poor  wan- 
derers they  were  seeking  should  pass  that  way, 
they  might  be  kept  from  starvation.  But  how 
much  more  affecting  is  it  to  contemplate  Christ, 
in  the  midst  of  the  arctic  regions  of  this  world's 
desolations,  travelling  hither  and  thither  to  deposit 
by  word  and  example  the  bread  of  life.  Here  and 
there,  now  and  again,  a  child  of  faith  would  meet 
Him,  like  a  solitary  hesperis,  amid  the  snows  of 
our  moral  winter,  whose  beauty  and  fragrance 


56  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

refreshed  him;  and  such,  no  doubt,  was  His 
experience  on  meeting  with  the  Syrophenician, 
whose  memorable  reply  we  have  cited  above ; 
and  whose  spirit  and  conduct  we  would  seek  to 
subordinate  to  our  spiritual  profit.  And  we  would 
first  notice 

HER  ZEAL. — She  "came  out11  to  meet  Christ; 
she  was  willing  to  exert  herself;  she  did  not  wait 
for  Christ  to  come  to  her — she  went  to  Him ;  but 
how  many  professing  Christians  are  there  who 
appear  too  slothful  to  seek  a  blessing,  even  from 
the  hand  of  God.  Through  the  public  ministra- 
tions of  His  Word  He  showers  down  His  favours; 
but  they  are  not  prepared  to  make  any  effort  to 
reach  the  place  where  they  are  so  richly  and 
freely  vouchsafed;  the  pearls  of  truth  literally 
cover  their  path,  but  it  appears  almost  too  much 
trouble  for  them  to  stoop  and  pick  them  up.  Alas ! 
for  the  condition  of  such ;  and  who  can  wonder  at 
their  poverty  ?  but  the  day  will  come  when  they 
shall  mourn  for  those  privileges  which  they  now 
despise.  This  poor  woman  "came  out;"  she  left 
her  home.  She  had  doubtless  heard  of  the  fame 
of  Christ,  and  was  willing  to  put  Him  to  the  test. 
If  we  would  receive  a  blessing  from  Christ,  we 
must  not  be  content  with  simply  hearing  of  Him, 
we  must  come  to  Him :  we  must  be  willing  to 
forsake  the  world — to  be  singular,  if  need  be  ;  to 
part  with  our  prejudices,  our  crude  notions,  tradi- 
tional creeds,  darling  sins — indeed,  with  every- 


THE   SYROPHENICIAN  WOMAN.  57 

thing  which  we  discover  to  be  opposed  to  our 
spiritual  progress.  For  thus  speak  the  lips  of 
love :  "  Come  ye  out  from  among  them,  and  be 
ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord ;  and  touch  not  the 
unclean  thing  ;  and  I  will  receive  you,  and  I  will 
be  a  Father  unto  you,  and  ye  shall  be  my  daughters, 
saith  the  Lord  Almighty." 

Observe,  further,  that  this  woman  did  not  come 
to  Christ  under  the  influence  of  a  mere  vague 
curiosity ;  but  to  seek  a  favour  from  Him.  She 
came  intelligently  to  accomplish  a  certain  object ; 
and  were  the  thousands  who  go  forth  merely  to 
hear  a  preacher's  voice  year  after  year,  from  cus- 
tom or  from  habit,  but  moved  to  seek  an  interview 
with  Christ,  how  soon  would  our  moral  petrefac- 
tions  begin  to  melt,  and  the  wastes  of  Zion  begin 
to  rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose. 

HER  FAITH. — She  came  to  CHRIST — she  did 
not  go  first  to  His  disciples,  but  came  direct  to 
Him,  and  let  all  who  are  just  beginning  to  enquire 
after  truth  imitate  her  example :  let  such,  with 
prayer  and  supplication,  go  at  once  to  the  great 
Teacher  Himself.  He  invites  such.  "  Take  my 
yoke  upon  you,  and  LEARN  OF  ME,"  He  says, 
"  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart."  Oh,  what 
trouble  and  perplexities  would  many  have  escaped 
if,  at  the  commencement  of  their  religious  career, 
they  had  but  gone  direct  to  Christ  as  the  great 
Teacher  of  His  people !  But  they  went  first  to 
the  disciples,  forgetful  of  their  Lord,  and  from 


58  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

f trusting  to  the  judgment  of  those  who  were  not 
competent  to  guide  them,  were  led  from  the  truth, 
as  well  as  kept  from  the  enjoyment  of  that  par- 
don and  peace  they  were  so  anxious  to  possess. 
Let  the  sincere  inquirer,  therefore,  take  heed,  and 
not  put  the  servant  in  the  place  of  the  Master  ;  but 
search  the  Scriptures  for  himself,  and  pray  for  the 
teaching  of  that  gracious  Spirit  whose  especial 
work  it  is  to  take  of  the  things  of  Christ  and 
show  them  to  His  disciples. 

Observe,  too,  how  this  woman  came.  We  are 
not  aware  that  she  had  either  precept,  promise,  or 
example  to  encourage  her  :  she  was  "  a  woman  of 
Canaan;'7  she  had  no  legal  claim  to  the  favour 
she  sought ;  literally  she  was  not  a  child  of  Abra- 
ham, yet  she  came.  0,  what  an  example  to  many 
more  favourably  circumstanced;  and  how  does 
her  faith  reprove  their  unbelief!  Who  among 
those  who  hear  the  gospel  can  say  that  they  have 
neither  precept,  promise,  nor  example  to  encou- 
rage them  to  come  to  Christ ;  and  yet  how  doubts 
and  fears  perpetually  rob  many  of  them  of  their 
joy.  We  have  no  right  to  go  to  Christ,  say  they : 
His  precepts,  promises,  and  commands  refer  to 
saints  ;  we  are  not  such.  Then  go  as  sinners — 
go  as  the  poor  woman — determine  with  the 
poet — 

"  I  can  but  perish  if  I  go, 
I  am  resolved  to  try ; 
For  if  I  stay  away,  I  know 
I  must  for  ever  die." 


THE   SYROPIIENICIAN   WOMAN".  59 

HER  PRAYER. — She  cried,  "Have  mercy  on 
me,  0  Lord,  Thou  Son  of  David"  She  recognised 
His  dominion  and  dignity,,  by  calling  Him  LORD  ; 
and  also  His  authority  to  save  as  the  Messiah  of 
His  people.  She  had  learned  something  of  His 
character,  and  her  trouble  furnished  her  with  a 
prayer ;  she  prayed  earnestly,  too,  because  her 
trouble  pressed  heavily.  Real  prayer  is  the  off- 
spring of  necessity,  the  child  of  penury  and  want. 
Many  come  to  God's  house,  and  where  Christ  is 
preached  and  dispenses  His  favours,  but  are  not 
blessed  because  they  do  not  pray;  they  receive 
not  because  they  ask  not ;  or  ask  under  the  in- 
fluence of  mere  formality.  This  poor  woman 
cried  unto  the  Lord  ;  she  was  earnest.  "  I  cried 
unto  the  Lord,"  says  the  psalmist:  many  pray 
who  do  not  cry  to  the  Lord.  "  Have  mercy  upon 
me,"  she  exclaimed ;  no  doubt  her  neighbours 
had  heard  of  the  Saviour  as  well  as  herself,  but 
perhaps  they  had  no  sorrow  in  their  dwellings,  as 
certainly  they  had  no  faith  in  their  hearts ;  and 
hence  they  came  not  to  Him  who  only  can  save. 
It  is  a  sense  of  their  need  of  mercy  which  makes 
men  cry  to  the  Lord,  which  gives  eloquence  to 
their  words,  and  dictates  those  petitions  which 
move  the  heart,  and  command  the  help  of  Christ. 

HER  IMPORTUNITY. — "  Jesus  answered  not  a 
word;"  but  she  did  not  despair,  but  went  to  His 
disciples  to  get  them  to  intercede  with  their  Lord 
— and  in  our  distresses  it  is  well  to  seek  the 


60  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

prayer  of  our  brethren ;  delay,  however,  is  not 
denial  with  the  Lord.  "Our  time,"  He  tells  us, 
"is  always  ready  ;"  but  He  will  try  the  faith  of 
His  people  ;  "  The  Lord  trieth  the  righteous"  If  we 
would  be  really  blessed  of  the  Lord,  the  determi- 
nation of  Job  must  be  ours,  "  Though  he  slay  me 
yet  will  I  trust  Him.'1''  Though  our  trials  should 
be  severe,  and  our  prayers  remain  unanswered, 
we  must  continue  to  pray.  We  must  imitate  the 
poor  woman  who  came  back  again  and  worshipped 
Him,  saying,  "  Lord,  help  me  /"  Let  not  the 
silence  of  Jesus  discourage  us,  for  thus  He  fre- 
quently deals  with  His  people,  to  constrain  them 
to  more  importunity  with  Him ;  He  delights  to 
help  them,  but  He  loves  them  to  seek  His  aid, 
and  to  take  no  denial. 

HER  HUMILITY  AND  ARGUMENT. — "It  is  not  meet 
to  take  the  children's  bread  and  cast  it  to  dogs!" 
Why  this  is  worse  than  silence  ;  surely,  the  poor 
woman  must  have  thought  this  a  hard  Speech 
from  the  lips  of  LOVE.  Our  Saviour  was  not 
content  simply  to  call  her  a  dog,  but  in  order 
to  give  fall  force  to  His  rebuff,  and  to  test  her 
faith,  He  says,  "It  is  not  meet  to  take  the  chil- 
dren's bread  and  to  cast  it  to  dogs."  She  would 
understand  this,  however  poor  and  illiterate,  for 
she  was  a  mother.  She  knew  how  she  felt  when 
she  looked  upon  a  dog,  and  what  were  her  feel- 
ings when  she  gazed  upon  her  child.  She  could 
appreciate,  therefore,  the  full  force  of  our  Sa- 


THE   SYROPHENICIAN   WOMAN.     >          61 

viour's  words.  "  There  are  some  upon  whom 
He  looks  as  I  look  upon  my  child  ;  there  are 
others  upon  whom  He  looks  as  I  do  upon  a  dog ; 
most  assuredly  I  am  among  the  latter.  l  It  is  not 
meet  to  take  the  children's  bread  and  cast  it  to 
dogs.'  No,  it  is  not  meet ;  how  could  I  bear  to 
see  my  child's  bread  taken  from  her  to  be  given 
to  a  dog !"  What  will  she  do?  She  understands 
Him  well.  "  TRUTH,  Lord!  I  am  all  thy  words 
imply — a  sinful  creature — I  deserve  thy  scorn — I 
have  no  claim  upon  Thy  love — I  am  not  a  child, 
nor  have  I  any  right  to  participate  in  the  bless- 
ings of  thy  chosen.  Truth,  Lord !  although  thy 
words  condemn,  and  all  but  quench  my  hope, 
still  Thou  art  LORD,  and  hast  a  right  thus  to 
address  me,  and  to  reject  my  plea :  for  known  to 
Thee  are  all  my  ways ;  and  all  Thy  words  are 
truth.  I  am  a  dog — be  this  admitted ;  wilt  Thou 
not  permit  me  to  use  my  misery  as  an  argument 
with  Thee  ?  Do  not  the  dogs  eat  of  the  crumbs 
which  fall  from  their  masters'  table  ?"  0  misery, 
how  ingenious  art  thou !  0  necessity,  thou  hast 
an  eloquence  no  artifice  can  counterfeit!  For- 
mality never  pleaded  thus  with  Christ :  hunger 
will  eat  its  way  through  stone  walls,  and  put  a 
plea  into  the  lips  of  ignorance  itself;  want  makes 
the  poor  speak  well,  and  gives  grace  and  vigour 
to  their  words.  It  is  said,  this  woman's  country- 
men were  celebrated  for  their  wit ;  her  daughter's 
sufferings  doubtless  stimulated  hers,  and  taught 
6 


62  LESSONS   FROM  J2SUS. 

her  how  to  make  an  ugly  proverb  plead  her 
cause.  A  burdened  heart  will  frequently  brighten 
up  the  mind,  and  make  even  the  lips  of  utter 
helplessness  grow  bold.  "  Even  l  the  dogs  eat  of 
the  crumbs  which  fall  from  their  masters1  table.' 
Wilt  Thou  let  this  privilege  be  mine  ?  I  do  not 
ask  a  loaf,  but  a  crumb ;  what,  then,  wilt  Thou 
deny  me  this  ?  It  is  but  the  refuse  of  thy  mercy 
I  implore :  I  will  not  rob  thy  children,  nor  will  I 
take  their  place ;  I  will  sit  beneath  thy  table, 
Lord,  if  I  may  have  a  crumb.  Most  gladly  will 
I  take  the  dog's  place ;  with  joy  I'll  sit  with 
them,  if  I  may  have  their  fare — '  a  crumb.'  I 
know  it  is  more  than  I  deserve,  but  oh,  a  crumb 
is  life !  Mere  sinful  men  will  let  their  dogs  have 
these ;  and  wilt  thou  let  thy  mercy  be  outdone 
by  such  ?"  Sweet  eloquence  of  want !  Humility, 
how  forcible  thy  words  !  This  woman  will  pre- 
vail ;  have  we  her  spirit  ?  How  many  a  profess- 
ing Christian  would  be  offended  with  the  lan- 
guage addressed  to  her,  though  from  the  lips  of 
Christ !  What,  call  us  dogs !  we  are  no  worse 
than  others!  Header,  be  not  deceived.  What 
saith  the  Word  ?  "  But  we  are  all  as  an  unclean 
thing,  and  all  our  righteousness  are  as  filthy  rags ; 
and  we  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf;  and  our  iniquities, 
like  the  wind,  have  taken  us  away."  Does  this 
declaration  agree  with  thy  experience?  Did 
Christ  call  thee  a  dog,  would'st  thou  respond, 
"  Truth,  Lord  ?"  Hast  thou  so  deep  a  conscious- 


THE   SYROPHENICIAN   WOMAN.  63 

ness  of  thy  depravity,  that  it  would  not  offend 
thee,  but  rather  lead  thee  to  turn  thy  misery  into 
a  plea  with  the  Lord,  that  the  crumbs  of  His 
mercy  might  be  thine  ?  Oh,  remember  it  is  writ- 
ten, that  the  "  poor  shall  be  filled,  but  the  rich 
sent  empty  away  !"  Learn  the  secret  of  success 
with  the  Lord  from  the  distressed  Syrophenician ; 
truly  confess  thy  depravity  and  guilt,  and  throw 
thyself  entirely  on  His  unmerited  favour  alone. 

HER  SUCCESS. — "  0  woman,  great  is  thy  faith!" 
Scarcely  was  the  admission  made  when  the  answer 
came.  And  why  is  the  answer  to  our  prayers  so 
frequently  delayed  ?  Is  it  not  because  the  heart 
is  too  proud  to  admit  the  truth  of  our  condition? 
The  silence  of  Jesus  is  the  silence  of  love;  He  sees 
that  a  speedy  answer  would  spoil  His  work.  The 
heart  frequently  requires  more  bruising  than  we 
imagine,  in  order  that  the  truth  in  open  acknow- 
ledgment may  come  freely  from  our  lips. 

"  0  woman,  great  is  thy  faith !  "  His  rough 
reply  only  added  to  its  vigour ;  His  discipline  did 
but  develop  its  latent  strength.  He  knew  that  it 
would :  the  character  of  her  faith  was  well  known 
to  Him  when  first  her  cry  fell  upon  His  ears ;  but 
He  would  have  this  appear,  that  others  might  be 
profited  by  her  example.  He  commended  the 
faith  that  would  not  take  a  refusal.  Jesus  loves 
the  faith  which  cleaves  to  Him  in  the  storm,  that 
strives  to  grasp  His  hand  when  the  waves  of 
guilt  and  sorrow  strive  to  loosen  the  soul  from  its 


64  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

anchor ;  that  will  rest  upon  His  word  when  reason 
declares  there  is  no  hope,  and  unbelief  gives  up  all 
for  lost ;  a  faith  that  the  changes  of  life  cannot 
wither,  nor  despair  overcome ;  that  ever  exclaims, 
"  Though  He  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  Him." 

"  Great  is  thy  faith.'1'1  And  what  was  the 
character  of  the  faith  which  Jesus  commended  ? 
It  stood  connected  with  zeal,  childlike  simplicity, 
importunate  prayer,  profound  humility,  and  un- 
wavering confidence  in  the  ability  of  Christ  to 
grant  what  was  sought.  If  we  have  such  a  faith, 
though  we  have  not  the  assurance  of  faith,  and 
though  we  cannot  say  positively  that  Christ  is  ours, 
let  us  take  heed  that  we  properly  estimate  its  value, 
nor  look  upon  that  as  a  common  thing  which 
brings  commendation  from  the  lips  of  its  great 
Author. 

"Be  it  unto  thee  as  thou  wilt"  What  a  god- 
like declaration  is  this !  Her  faith  had  entreated 
him  as  LORD,  and  He  now  addresses  her  as  such. 
"Beit  unto  thee  as  thou  wilt"  "Satan  shall  be 
dethroned,  and  thy  daughter  shall  be  healed.  I 
am  overcome  by  thy  faith ;  thy  will  is  mine  own, 
I  throw  the  reins  into  thy  own  hands  ;  my  love 
grants  thy  request.  0  saint,  what  a  God  thou  dost 
serve!  0  sinner,  what  a  Saviour  thou  dost  despise !" 
"  Be,  it  unto  thee  as  thou  wilt."  "  Thy  faith  can 
be  trusted;  it  will  dictate  that  which  is  right." 
Illustrious  woman !  she  has  conquered  the  King 
of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords ;  all  the  perfections  of 


THE   SYROPHENICIAN   WOMAN.  65 

Deity  now  come  forth  to  her  help ;  Omnipotence 
moves  at  her  bidding  to  effect  her  desire,  and  her 
will  for  a  time  is  as  the  will  of  God.  Even  so  shall 
it  be  with  all  who  come  to  the  Lord  possessed  of 
the  same  faith,  and  clothed  with  the  same  humility ; 
who  plead  with  the  same  importunity,  and  wait 
upon  Christ  in  the  exercise  of  the  same  grace. 

"  One  Priest  alone  can  pardon  me, 

Or  bid  me  '  Go  in  peace ;' 
Can  breathe  that  word,  *  Absolvo  te,'* 

And  make  these  heart-throbs  cease. 
My  soul  has  heard  His  priestly  voice ; 
It  said,  *  I  bore  thy  sins — rejoice ! '  1  Pet.  ii.  2  i. 

He  showed  the  spear-mark  in  his  side, 

The  nail-print  on  His  palm : 
Said,  *  Look  on  Me,  the  crucified. 

Why  tremble  thus  ?    Be  calm ! 
All  power  is  Mine — I  set  thee  free. 
Be  not  afraid — Absolvo  te.'  Isa.  xlv.  22. 

In  chains  of  sin  once  tied  and  bound, 

I  walk  in  life  and  light ; 
Each  spot  I  tread  is  hallowed  ground, 

Whilst  Him  I  keep  in  sight, 

Who  died  a  victim  on  the  tree,  • 

That  He  might  say,  'Absolvo  te.'  1  John  i.  7. 

By  Him  my  soul  is  purified, 

Once  leprous  and  defiled  ; 
Cleansed  by  the  water  from  His  side, 

God  sees  me  as  a  child. 
No  priest  can  heal  or  cleanse  but  He ; 
No  other  say,  « Absolvo  to.'  Matt.  viii.  3. 

*  I  pardon  thee. 

6* 


66  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

He  robed  me  in  a  priestly  dress 

That  I  might  incense  bring 
Of  prayer,  and  praise,  and  righteousness, 

To  heaven's  eternal  King. 
And  when  He  gave  this  robe  to  me, 
He  smiled  and  said,  '  Absolvo  te.'  Zech.  iii.  4,  5. 

In  heaven  He  stands  before  the  throne, 

The  great  High  Priest  above, 
MELCHISEDEC  ' — that  name  alone 

Can  sin's  dark  stain  remove. 
To  Him  I  look  on  bended  knee, 
And  hear  that  sweet '  Absolvo  te.'  Heb.  viii.  1. 

A  girded  Levite  here  below, 

I  willing  service  bring ; 
Arid  fain  would  tell  to  all  I  know 

Of  Christ  the  Priestly  King ; 
"Would  win  all  hearts  from  sin  to  flee, 
And  hear  him  say,  '  Absolvo  te.'  1  John  ii.  1. 

'A  little  while,'  and  He  shall  come 

Forth  from  the  inner  shrine, 
To  call  his  pardon'd  brethren  home : 

0  bliss  supreme,  divine ! 
When  every  blood-bought  child  shall  see 
The  PRIEST  who  said,  '  Absolvo  te.' "          Heb.  ix.  28. 


"  And  I  will  study  to  adorn 
My  heart  with  meekness  under  scorn, 

With  gentle  patience  in  distress, 
With  faithful  love,  that  yearning  cleaves 
To  those  o'er  whom  to  death  it  grieves, 

Whose  sins  its  very  soul  oppress. 

When  evil  tongues,  with  stinging  blame, 
Would  cast  dishonour  on  my  name, 

I'll  curb  the  passions  that  upstart, 
And  take  injustice  patiently, 
And  pardon,  as  Thou  pardon'st  me, 

With  an  ungrudging,  generous  heart." 

PAUL  GERHARDT. 


fthnrc  of  f  esus; 


OB, 


HOW  TO  MEET  FALSE  ACCUSATIONS. 


" But  He  answered  him  not  to  one  word" — Matt,  xxvii. 
14.     (Old  Translation.) 

How  expressive  is  silence — "the  silence  of  old 
ocean  resting  after  storms;"  when  its  hoary 
heaving  bosom  is  lulled  to  sleep,  its  boisterous 
pealing  anthem  hushed,  and  placid  and  quiet  it 
spreads  before  the  eye  a  striking  picture  of  qui- 
escent omnipotence  and  infinite  repose.  The 
silence  of  night,  too,  is  not  less  potent  in  its  influ- 
ence; when  the  many  strings  of  nature's  harp 
cease  their  vibrations,  and  the  stars  looking  down 
quietly  upon  us,  so  soft  and  subdued  in  their 
lustre,  seem  to  invite  us  for  a  time  to  throw  aside 
the  depressive  cerecloths  of  mortality,  and  join 
with  them  in  sublime  and  silent  awe  to  muse  His 
praise  who  made  them  all.  And  we  read  also 
that  there  was  once  "  silence  in  heaven  about  the 


70  LESSONS   FKOM  JESUS. 

space  of  half  an  hour;" — a  period  when  even  the 
orchestra  of  glory  ceased  to  yield  its  notes,  and 
angels'  fingers  faltered  on  the  strings  of  harps 
which  had  never  ceased  to  praise.  That  silence 
must  have  been  felt :  it  was  something  new ;  the 
sudden  stop  in  the  grand  chorus  of  heaven's  vast 
choir,  its  myriad  harps  and  voices ;  how  impres- 
sive! The  angelic  tongues  all  mute;  the  holy 
worshippers  filled  with  expectation,  waiting  to 
learn  why  they  must  suspend  their  sweet  employ ; 
what  solemn  mandate  from  the  eternal  throne  ia 
this?  what  does  it  mean?  How"  heaven's  vast 
silence  must  have  startled  them!  But  not  the 
silence  of  the  slumbering  deep  beneath  its  myriad 
waves,  the  voiceless  night,  or  heaven's  vast 
temple,  is  so  affecting  or  instructive  as  the  silence 
of  Him  of  whom  it  is  written,  "But  He  answered 
not  a  word"  He  had  listened  to  many,  and  such 
words !  He  was  pure,  but  they  made  Him  vile ; 
He  was  true,  but  they  made  Him  false ;  He  was 
God,  but  they  made  Him  man.  But  He  answered 
not  a  word !  The  charges  cannot  affect  Him  per- 
haps ?  He  stands  impeached  for  His  life :  should 
His  accusers  accomplish  their  purpose,  His  doom 
will  be  sealed ;  there  are  cruel  men  standing  by, 
eager  to  buffet  Him ;  there  is  a  crown  of  thorns 
and  a  purple  robe ;  a  weary  journey  and  a  heavy 
cross;  the  rugged  nails,  and  a  fearful  death! 
Yet  He  utters  not  a  word;  perhaps  He  cannot 
speak — has  no  skill  to  plead  ?  None  so  eloquent 


THE   SILENCE   OF  JESUS.  71 

as  He.  Perhaps  He  knows  not  how  to  meet  the 
rude  falsehoods  of  hell  ?  He  is  the  wisdom  of 
God.  Then  why  is  He  silent  ?  Does  He  not  feel 
the  indictment?  More  than  words  can  express. 
Does  He  perceive  His  danger?  More  clearly 
than  His  persecutors.  But  He  sees  also  what 
they  do  not — those  words  of  His  servant  which 
they  do  not  understand:  "  He  was  oppressed,  and 
He  was  afflicted,  yet  He  opened  not  His  mouth : 
He  is  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter,  and  as 
a  sheep  before  her  shearers  is  dumb,  so  He  opened 
not  His  mouth." 

It  is  this  seals  His  lips ;  love  has  brought  Him 
here  to  die;  love  will  not  let  Him  speak.  In 
vain  you  taunt  Him,  cruel  men ;  in  vain  you  con- 
demn Him,  venal  judge !  His  love  will  baffle  all 
your  efforts;  you  may  threaten  and  reproach, 
hold  up  His  name  to  scorn,  and  even  rob  Him  of 
life ;  but  you  will  hear  no  complaint,  you  will  get 
no  reply.  He  stands  before  you  to  suffer,  for  this 
He  is  prepared ;  He  has  counted  the  cost ;  He  has 
come  to  plead  through  His  deeds,  but  not  for 
Himself;  to  give  emphasis  to  His  words,  though 
not  in  the  vindication  of  His  fame,  but  in  the 
salvation  of  His  Church.  He  will  speak  for  His 
people,  but  He  has  no  words  for  Himself;  He  is 
dumb  in  His  own  cause,  though  so  eloquent  in 
theirs;  and  that  His  words  may  avail  for  them 
He  will  give  His  own  blood.  Hence,  now,  He 
will  not  speak,  it  is  His  intention  to  die.  He 


72  LESSONS   FKOM   JESUS. 

knows  the  charges  are  untrue,  but  He  has  pre- 
pared no  defence.  He  could  defeat  His  accusers, 
but  His  Church  must  be  saved. 

Ah!  this  is  why  those  lips,  so  eloquent  to 
plead  the  sinner's  cause,  are  silent  now;  the 
tongue  of  slander  cannot  make  Him  speak,  for 
He  will  save -His  Church,  and  teach  her  how  to 
stand  unmoved  amid  the  strife  of  tongues. 

"  He  uttered  not  a  word" — Can  we  forget  this? 
Yes,  we  can.  But  let  us  not :  and  when  the  fang 
of  envy,  anxious  to  wound,  gives  forth  perpetu- 
ally the  poison  of  misrepresentation ;  when  pre- 
judice, intent  to  spy  defects,  pores  over  each  act 
and  word;  when  slander  makes  a  target  of  our 
reputation,  her  darling  aim  to  hold  us  up  to 
scorn,  then  let  the  silence  of  those  lips  which 
plead  our  cause  admonish  us ;  and  let  us  strive 
to  imitate  Him,  who,  though  falsely  accused, 
uttered  no  angry  word ;  let  us  seek  for  grace  to 
keep,  subdue,  and  guide;  so  shall  our  deeds  be 
our  defence,  and  form  a  shield  malicious  words 
shall  never  pierce.  While  in  the  ears  of  ca- 
lumny, anxious  for  our  ruin,  we  shall  be  pro- 
claimed disciples  of  Him,  "  who,  when  He  was 
reviled,  reviled  not  again ;  when  He  suffered,  He 
threatened  not;  but  submitted  Himself  to  Him 
who  judgeth  righteously." 

"  Should  envious  tongues  some  malice  frame, 
To  soil  and  tarnish  your  good  name, 
Live  it  down  1 


THE  SILENCE   OF  JESUS.  73 

Grow  not  dishearten'd ;  'tis  the  lot 
Of  all  men,  whether  good  or  not : 
Live  it  down ! 

Rail  not  in  answer,  but  be  calm  ; 
For  silence  yields  a  rapid  balm : 

Live  it  down  I 

Go  not  among  you  friends  and  say, 
Evil  hath  fallen  on  my  way : 

Live  it  down ! 

Far  better  thus  yourself  alone 
To  suffer,  than  with  friends  bemoan 
The  trouble  that  is  all  your  own : 
Live  it  down ! 

What  though  men  evil  call  your  good  ! 
So  CHRIST  himself,  misunderstood, 
Was  nail'd  unto  a  cross  of  wood  ! 
And  now  shall  you,  for  lesser  pain, 
Your  inmost  soul  for  ever  stain, 
By  rendering  evil  back  again  ? 

Live  it  down ! 

Oh !  if  you  look  to  be  forgiven, 
Love  your  own  foes,  the  bitterest  even, 
And  love  to  you  shall  glide  from  heaven ; 
And  when  shall  come  the  poison'd  lie, 
Swift  from  the  bow  of  calumny, 
If  you  would  turn  it  harmless  by, 
And  make  the  venom'd  falsehood  lie, 
Live  it  down!" 


"  "When  we  look  at  our  great  High  Priest  in  faith,  we  may 
look  at  ourselves  (bad  as  we  are)  without  despair,  at  our  ene- 
mies (however  many)  without  fear,  at  our  trials  (however  great) 
without  repining,  and  at  our  duties  (however  difficult)  without 
discouragement." —  Our  Great  High  Priest,  by  JOHN  Cox. 

"  Sinners  can  do  nothing  but  make  wounds  that  Christ  may 
heal  them,  and  make  debts  that  He  may  pay  them,  and  make 
falls  that  He  may  raise  them,  and  make  deaths  that  He  may 
quicken  them,  and  spin  out  and  dig  hells  for  themselves  that 
He  may  ransom  them.  Now  I  will  bless  the  Lord  that  ever 
there  was  such  a  thing  as  the  free  grace  of  God,  and  a  free 
ransom  given  for  sold  souls:  only,  alas!  guiltiness  maketh  me 
ashamed  to  apply  to  Christ,  and  to  think  it  pride  in  me  to  put 
out  my  unclean  and  withered  hand  to  such  a  Saviour !  But  it 
is  neither  shame  nor  pride  for  a  drowning  man  to  swim  to  a 
rock,  nor  for  a  ship-broken  soul  to  run  himself  ashore  upon 
Christ." — RUTHERFORD. 

"  He  lives,  he  lives !  and  sits  above, 

For  ever  interceding  there. 
"Who  shall  divide  us  from  His  love, 
Or  what  should  tempt  us  to  despair  I" 


Cjjrfet  ani 


OB, 


NEVER  DESPAIR. 


ey  come  to  Jesus,  and  see  him  that  was  possessed 
with  the  devil,  and  had  the  legion,  sitting,  and  clothed,  and  in 
his  right  mind :  and  they  were  a/raid." — Mark  v.  15. 

THIS  world  is  but  a  huge  necropolis,  a  city  of 
the  dead ;  it  is  filled  with  tombs,  among  which 
men  wander  like  the  demoniac  of  old,  the  sport 
of  sin,  and  slaves  of  Satan.  Their  condition,  in- 
deed, is  so  bad,  that  it  finds  but  a  faint  illustration 
in  the  history  of  the  poor  Gadarene,  as  above  re- 
corded. 

This  poor  creature,  it  seems,  was  possessed  by 
a  legion  of  devils  :  other  spirits  besides  his  own 
had  mastered  him,  and  he  was  their  wretched 
vassal,  and  compelled  to  obey.  He  might  have 
been  conscious  of  his  bondage,  and  frequently 
have  mourned  over  the  fearful  servitude  by  which 
he  was  held,  without  being  able  to  escape  from 


76  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

his  thraldom,  or  to  eject  his  foes.  He  had  also  a 
companion  in  misery ;  so  that,  if  ever  he  had  a 
lucid  interval,  he  could  fully  contemplate  himself 
as  thus  reflected,  and  fully  appreciate  all  the  hor- 
rors of  his  condition.  And  as  thus  situated,  in 
his  position  and  conduct,  he  most  forcibly  illus- 
trates the  condition  of  many  morally  before  God. 
True  it  is,  men  are  not  literally  possessed  of  de- 
vils ;  but  all  are  by  nature  the  slaves  of  sin,  and 
led  captive  by  the  great  adversary  at  his  will. 
Of  man}7,  too,  who  boast  of  their  liberty,  it  is  but, 
too  evident  that  they  are  the  slaves  of  corrup- 
tion : — certain  evil  tendencies,  which  they  should 
have  checked,  have  been  fostered  until  they  have 
issued  in  inveterate  habits,  through  the  medium 
of  which,  as  with  so  many  strong  cords,  the  great 
Evil  One  binds  them  to  'his  chariot  wheels,  and 
drags  or  guides  them  whithersoever  it  pleases 
him.  Some  of  them  laugh  and  sing  on  their  way, 
like  so  many  demoniacs,  making  great  and  noisy 
pretensions  to  freedom ;  -while  others,  conscious 
of  their  degradation,  savagely  snap  at  their  bonds, 
but  cannot  get  free. 

Nor  was  it  enough  that  the  demons  took  pos- 
session of  these  Gadarenes,  but  they  carried  them 
away  from  their  homes  and  all  the  pleasures  of 
social  life.  Their  friends  smiled  upon  them,  but 
they  smiled  not  again  ;  they  addressed  words  of 
love  to  them,  but  they  met  with  no  response. 
And  how  frequently  does  sin  cut  off  men  from 


CHRIST   AND   THE   DEMONIAC.  77 

social  happiness  and  God !  Their  Maker  smiles 
upon  them  through  His  works,  but  they  smile  not 
again ;  He  speaks  to  them  in  accents  of  love 
through  His  Word,  but  they  obey  not  His  voice. 

Nor  was  this  all :  these  poor  creatures  made 
their  home  among  the  tombs.  And  oh,  how 
many  are  there,  who,  although  they  live  in  the 
midst  of  a  moral  paradise,  where  streams  of  pure 
and  innocent  pleasures  ripple  at  their  feet,  and 
invite  their  lips  to  drink, — live  encompassed  with 
the  sweet  flowers  of  every  saintly  virtue,  the  rich 
odours  of  which  rise  perpetually  around  them, — 
nevertheless  forsake  all  to  wander  amid  the  paths 
of  vice,  and  live  comparatively  alone  amid  the 
exhalations  of  moral  pestilence  and  death.  0 
dreadful  solitude !  well  symbolized  by  the  tombs 
among  which  the  poor  Gradarene  dwelt. 

He  sometimes  changed  his  position,  but  it  was 
ever  for  a  tomb — the  cold  sepulchre,  death  be- 
neath him,  and  corruption  around  him.  Well 
did  his  cold  prison-house  of  the  grave  shadow 
forth  the  icy  desolation  of  those  upon  whose 
spirits  the  sweet  sun  of  hope  and  joy  never  shines, 
and  whose  eyes  are  never  gladdened  by  the  sweet 
flowers  of  warm-hearted  benevolence,  cheerful- 
ness, and  peace. 

It  was  meet  that  he  should  dwell  in  a  charnel- 
house  whose  dead,  cold,  apathetic  heart  never 
beat  responsive  to  human  joy  or  nature's  charms. 

Summer  came,  and  threw  her  smiling  progeny 

7* 


78  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

around  his  path,  and  Winter  beat  his  icy  morsels 
in  his  face,  but  still  he  heeded  not.  He  was  a 
demoniac. 

And  in  the  cold,  dreary  sepulchre  of  this  de- 
moniac, who  does  not  see  the  home  of  dark  mis- 
anthropy— the  arctic  regions  occupied  by  those 
who  live  for  self  and  sin :  cold,  cold  in  heart  to 
God  and  Christ,  and  purity  and  peace?  A  palace 
sometimes  their  home,  a  sepulchre  it  is  found,  for 
selfishness,  has  bound  them  to  themselves, — a 
spot  of  vile  corruption,  on  which  the  sun  of 
Jesu's  love  never  shines,  and  where  moral  winter 
ever  throws  its  icy  chains  around  all. 

And  others,  too,  hemmed  in  by  deeds  of  moral 
turpitude,  live  on,  shut  out  from  heaven's  own 
joys.  The  slaves  of  vicious  habits,  a  moral  fever 
spreads  around  their  path,  and  carries  death  to 
all  that  is  good,  wherever  they  come ;  a  walking 
lazar-house,  their  moral  leprosy  shuts  them  up  in 
dens  of  infamy,  amid  the  vile.  Their  home  is 
but  a  tomb — a  dark,  cold  place,  though  songs  and 
revelry  and  thoughtless  mirth  are  often  found 
within.  No  ray  of  heavenly  light  relieves  the 
gloom ;  no  vernal  sun  of  grace  appears  to  make 
another  spring,  and  cause  the  vital  sap  of  love  to 
God  and  holiness  to  spring  forth,  or  streams  of 
calm  domestic  joys  and  filial  love  and  charity  to 
flow.  Say  now,  ye  jaded  devotees  of  pleasure,  is 
not  all  this  true  ?  is  not  your  heart  a  sepulchre, 
your  home  a  grave?  and  happiness  and  peace,  are 


CHRIST   AND   THE   DEMONIAC.  79 

they  not  far  away  ?  Naked  of  that  which  gives 
real  joy,  is  not  your  path,  a  place  of  death,  vile 
and  corrupt — of  blighted  hopes,  and  pain,  and 
fruitless  toil,  and  disappointment  ?  Are  you  not 
sad  and  cheerless,  though  you  laugh?  and  does 
not  the  cold  hand  of  desolation  oft  unbidden  press 
your  spirit  down,  even  when  it  strives  to  rise? 
And,  though  you  turn  your  head  aside,  do  not  the 
grave-^ard  and  the  tomb  too  frequently  present 
themselves,  and  look  you  in  the  face?  and  the 
coffin-lid,  the  shroud,  the  gloomy  pall,  and  the 
crawling  worm,  come  creeping  in  between  the  in- 
terludes of  your  wild  mirth,  refusing  to  move  at 
your  behest?  and  when  at  night  sleep  flies  the 
burning  brow,  does  not  the  dreaded  bar,  the  awful 
Judge,  appear?  Ye  know  'tis  even  so:  your 
home  is  with  the  dead,  ye  dwell  among  the  tombs. 
And  ye,  too,  who,  with  look  demure  and  down- 
cast eyes,  so  shake  your  head  as  though  your 
garments  were  so  white  that  an  angel's  ringers 
would  defile  them, — are  you  among  the  tombs  ? 
"  You  never  did  any  harm !"  What,  have  you 
never  sinned?  Is  not  this  world  your  home? 
You  are  respectable ;  you  pay  your  way,  and  go 
to  church ;  your  neighbours  praise  you,  for  you 
have  done  well  for  yourself;  your  moral  cloak 
and  Sunday  principles  have  helped  you-  on,  and 
brought  you  many  customers,  and  so  you  think  it 
well  to  keep  to  them,  and  to  abstain  from  outward 
sin.  You  are  a  prudent  man.  Yes ;  but  what  of 


80  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

faith  in  Christ,  His  blood  and  righteousness,  inter- 
nal purity,  and  hungering  after  truth  ?  What  of 
love  to  Christ,  His  Gospel  and  people  for  His  sake  ? 
What  of  a  daily  cross,  through  sin  and  self-denying 
labour  to  make  known  the  fame  of  Him  who  died 
to  save  the  lost?  What  of  delight  in  prayer,  and 
holy  fellowship  with  Christ,  and  constant  sorrow 
on  account  of  sins  against  His  love  ?  You  know 
these  things  are  strange  to  you.  Most  prudent 
man,  prudent  to  bless  yourself,  and  flee  the  re- 
proach of  Christ, — while  yet  you  mourn  the  follies 
of  the  world  !  Your  heart  is  like  a  stone  to  Christ 
— from  it  no  spring  of  love  wells  forth  to  God  and 
man ;  the  fruits  of  holy  intercourse  with  Him, 
through  Christ,  you  never  taste ;  the  flowers  of 
faith,  and  hope,  and  love  throw  not  their  fragrance 
round  your  path.  Outwardly  correct  your  con- 
duct, it  is  true,  your  heart  is  yet  a  sepulchre, 
within  which  a  mass  of  moral  putrefaction  lives, 
with  bones  of  worldly  pride  and  care,  and  love  of 
self,  and  ease,  and  fame,  and  gold.  Mourn  for 
yourself,  0  man  !  the  plague-spot  is  within ;  the 
man  among  the  tombs  is  even  still  your  archetype. 
The  Gadarene  was  cruel  to  himself,  too,  fond 
of  cutting  himself  with  stones.  How  cruel  is 
Satan,  and  how  cruel  he  makes  men  to  them- 
selves !  How  favoured  those  whom  grace  makes 
friendly  to  themselves !  With  the  sharp  stones 
of  their  own  darling  sins  how  frequently  do  men 
cut  themselves.  Well  may  they  exclaim,  "  My 


CHRIST  AND   THE   DEMONIAC.  81 

wounds  stink  and  are  corrupt,  by  reason  of  my 
foolishness."  Could  we  have  seen  the  poor  crea- 
ture thus  wounding  his  body,  how  we  should 
have  wept,  and  have  entreated  him  to  have  had 
mercy  upon  himself;  and  yet  with  what  insensi- 
bility do  we  behold  men  from  day  to  day  busily 
employed  in  wounding  the  soul,  the  nobler  part.  • 
How  seldom  do  we  mourn  over  their  self-inflicted 
wounds,  although  we  are  persuaded  they  are  bleed- 
ing them  down  to  eternal  death.  May  the  Lord 
forgive  us,  and  take  away  these  hearts  of  stone, 
and,  in  mercy  to  ourselves  and  others,  impart  to 
us  more  spiritual  sensibility  and  love ! 

This  poor  man  was  also  incorrigible  in  his 
folly.  He  had  been  bound,  but  it  was  of  no  use, 
he  burst  the  chains;  no  man  could  tame  him. 
How  obstinate  is  man,  frequently  in  the  perpe- 
tration of  that  which  must  issue  in  his  own  ruin. 
Down,  down  to  the  very  marl  of  hell  he  will  rush, 
though  he  tread  upon  burning  embers  with  naked 
feet  at  every  step.  To  the  fire  which  is  never  to 
be  quenched,  and  the  worm  which  never  dies,  he 
will  pass  on,  though  a  burning  thirst  feeds  upon 
his  strength,  and  racks  his  limbs  with  pain.  To 
disease  and  sickness,  to  days  of  sorrow,  and  lone, 
sad  nights,  to  poverty  and  pain,  to  prison  and 
nakedness,  the  grave,  the  bar  of  God,  the  awful 
pit,  the  wailings  of  the  damned,  he  hastens  on. 
In  vain  the  law  .puts  forth  its  iron  hand  and  binds 
its  manacles  about  his  limbs,  until  they  fester  in 


82  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

their  embrace.  In  vain  it  holds  up  to  his  view 
the  prison,  the  gallows,  the  grave.  In  vain  his 
friends,  yea,  his  own  flesh,  and  sometimes  dearly 
loved,  attempt  to  hold  him  back,  with  cries  and 
tears  entreat  him  to  return,  to  stop;  but  all  in 
vain!  On,  on,  'mid  blasted  hopes  and  broken 
vows,  mid  open  graves  and  lowering  clouds,  like 
the  wild  hurricane  he  passes  by.  The  thunders 
of  a  broken  law  fall  on  his  ears,  the  distant  mut- 
terings  of  Almighty  wrath ;  the  vivid  flash  of 
hell's  own  fire  darts  ever  and  anon  across  his 
path,  and  seems  to  burn  his  very  clothes — he 
heeds  not ;  but  still  'tis  on,  on,  until,  if  mercy 
stay  not,  in  one  dread  moment,  with  one  dread 
shriek,  he  disappears  like  as  a  spark  falls  into  the 
surging  ocean  and  is  gone !  0  incorrigible  sinner ! 
see  here  thy  destiny,  if  still  thou  spurn  the  warn- 
ing voice  of  God.  And  wilt  thou  not  tremble? 
Oh,  why  this  dreadful  haste  to  die?  Is  hell  in- 
deed a  place  so  dear  to  thee,  that  thou  wilt  break 
the  laws  of  God  and  man  to  reach  it  ?  Oh,  why 
this  suicidal  toil  to  curse  thyself?  Is  sin  so  sweet 
a  draught  to  thee,  that  thou  wilt  sell  all  present 
joy,  and  face  an  angry  God  to  get  it  to  thy  lips? 
Oh,  from  the  depths  of  thy  dark  heart  now  cry 
to  God !  Steel  not  thy  soul  against  Omnipotence. 
True,  thou  hast  laid  thy  head  upon  the  lap  of  sin, 
and  she  has  sold  thee  to  thy  foes,  to  make  them 
cruel  sport ;  still  heed  not,  but  in  the  hour  of  this 
thy  dread  necessity  look  up,  and  seek  by  prayer 


CHRIST  AND   THE   DEMONIAC.  83 

to  grasp  His  strength  whose  word  omnipotent 
loosened  the  Gadarene,  and  He  will  hear  and 
save. 

Of  the  appearance  of  this  poor  demoniac  we 
can  form  but  a  very  feeble  conception.  Imagine 
a  creature  in  a  state  of  shameful  nudity — his 
flesh  all  lacerated  and  torn,  his  skin  covered  with 
dirt,  while  his  flowing  blood  declares  his  wounds 
but  recently  made — his  hair,  all  wild  and  dis- 
hevelled, floating  on  the  breeze — his  beard  hang- 
ing matted  and  filthy  upon  his  breast — his  clenched 
teeth  and  staring  eyes  expressing  the  most  savage 
determination.  Imagine  you  see  him  rushing 
hither  and  thither,  that  you  hear  his  loud  yells 
as  he  cuts  himself  with  stones,  or  pursues  some 
imaginary  form,  upon  whom  he  hopes  to  expend 
his  rage;  failing  in  his  design,  observe  how  he 
casts  himself  upon  the  ground,  foaming  with 
anger,  and  uttering  the  most  horrid  imprecations, 
or  exhausted  by  the  violence  of  his  feelings ; 
mark  his  wan,  worn  face,  as  in  hopeless  agony  he 
wanders  up  and  down,  wringing  his  hands  and 
weeping  over  his  hapless  destiny.  What  a  sight ! 
and  how  gladly  we  turn  from  so  offensive  an  ob- 
ject. But  not  half  so  offensive  to  your  eye  is 
such  a  one,  as  is  the  man  who  is  living  under  the 
influence  of  sin,  and  fully  conformed  to  Satan. 
Such  is  said  to  be  wretched,  and  miserable,  and 
poor,  and  blind,  and  naked.  The  state  of  man 
by  nature,  indeed,  is  such,  that  the  condition  of 


84:  LESSORS   FROM   JESUS. 

tliis  poor  Gadarene  literally  is  but  a  faint  picture 
of  his  state  spiritually ;  and  hence  he  is  said  to  be 
a  child  of  wrath  and  slave  of  Satan. 

But  even  of  this  poor  Gadarene  we  read,  that 
he  was  observed  sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus, 
clothed,  and  in  his  right  mind.  Well  might 
those  who  saw  him  be  astonished.  Why,  what 
mysterious  power  has  mastered  his  foes  ?  How 
came  he  there?  what  did  it  involve?  A  visit 
from  Jesus,  of  whom  it  is  recorded,  that  He  went 
into  the  coast  of  Gadara,  though  infested  by  sucli 
characters.  He  was  not  afraid  to  do  so,  though 
He  knew  that  Satan  had  his  strongholds  there, 
and  that  some  whom  he  had  mastered  were  very 
fierce.  How  encouraging  the  thought,  that  Jesus 
seeks  His  people  at  their  worst,  and  has  a  perfect 
control  over  them  and  their  adversaries.  He  did 
not  simply  look  at  this  poor  man  at  a  distance, 
but  went  to  where  he  was;  and  thus,  by  His 
Word,  and  Spirit,  He  visits  His  people  now.  Did 
He  wait  for  a  lucid  interval,  they  would  never  be 
saved. 

"But  when  he  saw  Jesus  afar  off,  he  ran  and 
worshipped  him,  and  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  and 
said,  What  have  I  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus,  thou  Son 
of  the  most  high  God  ?  I  adjure  thee  by  God, 
that  thou  torment  me  not." 

He  ran  towards  Jesus.  The  servants  of  Satan 
knew  their  Master,  though  in  the  distance.  Their 
faith  was  strong,  for  they  had  already  felt  the 


CHRIST   AND  THE   DEMONIAC.  85 

weight  of  His  foot  and  the  power  of  His  arm. 
He  whose  omnific  word  hurled  them  from  the 
battlements  of  heaven,  and  but  recently  conquered 
their  king  in  the  wilderness,  was  no  stranger  to 
them.  The  man  ran  towards  a  Friend  this  time ; 
what  a  mercy,  were  it  ever  the  case  with  the  slaves 
of  Satan!  But  Jesus  came  towards  him  first; 
and  the  sound  of  this  poor  man's  steps  were  but 
the  echo  of  Christ's  seeking  to  save  His  own, 
though  led  captive  of  hell.  The  movement  of 
Jesus  produced  this.  The  sinner  is  sought,  and 
then  he  comes  to  his  Lord.  Grace  takes  the  lead, 
or  who  would  be  saved  ?  "  /  adjure  thee  by  God;" 
Jesus  is  a  torment  to  the  devil ;  He  puts  but  a 
finger  upon  him,  and  he  shrieks.  What  will  he 
feel  by-and-by,  when  the  full  weight  of  His  hand 
falls  upon  his  neck,  and  His  fingers  shall  rivet 
eternally  the  bars  of  his  cell  ?  "  That  thou  torment 
me  not"  How  anxious  is  ignorance  to  be  cursed ; 
and  what  strange  mistakes  does  sin  put  into  the 
heart,  and  bring  from  the  lips.  The  poor  man 
expected  torture  from  the  lips  of  Him  who  came 
to  bring  him  release.  Satanic  influence  puts  forth 
strange  prayers.  Poor  Gadarene  !  Jesus  will  not 
torment  thee,  but  thy  foes.  The  presence  of 
Jesus  ever  spoils  His  adversaries,  and  they  dread 
His  approach.  The  very  abysses  of  hell  tremble 
at  the  word  of  the  despised  ISTazarene.  Amid  the 
darkness  of  that  dreadful  pit,  His  eye  flashes  fire 
as  He  reads  the  secret  thoughts  of  the  damned. 


86  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

O'er  the  surging  billows  of  eternal  torment  He 
walks,  while  legions  of  the  lost  gather  together  in 
groups  and  tremble  as  He  passes  by.  In  Him 
they  see  but  the  face  of  a  Judge,  and  not  a 
Saviour.  Those  who  had  taken  possession  of  the 
Gadarene  knew  they  had  usurped  His  place,  and 
would  deprecate  His  wrath.  Jesus  brings  terror 
to  the  ungodly,  for  they  know  He  hates  their  sins, 
and  has  forbidden  the  pleasures  they  love ;  hence 
they  ignore  His  authority,  and  deem  His  yoke  a 
torment  and  a  grief.  Men  would  not  be  exorcised 
of  their  sins,  though  the  pit  of  hell  were  their 
doom.  Dreadful  infatuation  !  Sinner,  if  Jesus  is 
not  the  destruction  of  thy  sins  here,  He  will  tor- 
ment thy  soul  hereafter. 

"  For  he  said  unto  him,  Come  out  of  the  man,  tliou 
unclean  spirit."  Surely  these  words  should  have 
been  received  with  joy ;  but  how  unwilling  is 
man  to  be  blessed.  The  hand  that  would  loosen 
his  bonds  he  spurns  aside.  In  love  with  the  sins 
which  have  mastered  him,  he  deems  it  torment  to 
be  delivered  from  them,  and  hates  the  efforts  of 
those  who  would  snatch  him  from  his  doom.  But 
Jesus  heeded  not  the  ravings  of  the  demoniac, — 
He  knew  who  dictated  his  prayer.  He  will  spoil 
the  works  of  the  devil,  without  asking  the  per- 
mission of  his  slaves.  And  observe  how  potent 
is  His  word.  Hell  comes  weeping  to  his  feet: 
"  And  he  besought,"  &c.  (verses  10,  11,  12.)  The 
devils  were  united  in  their  prayer :  they  preferred 


CHRIST   AND   THE   DEMONIAC.  87 

the  swine  to  their  native  pit.  "  Oh,  send  us  not 
to  it,"  said  they ;  "  turn  not  the  bolts  and  bars  of 
that  dread  prison-house  upon  us  before  our  time ; 
hurl  us  not  into  that  sea  of  wrath.  We  know 
Thou  art  the  Son  of  God ;  we  know  Thy  voice, 
and  have  felt  Thy  power  before — that  Thou  hast 
the  keys  of  David — that  the  door  of  our  prison 
swings  backwards  and  forwards  at  Thy  command. 
Oh,  permit  us  to  go  at  large  for  at  least  a  little 
time  longer." 

"And  forthwith  Jesus  gave  them  leave"  &c. 
The  swine  were  His  property,  and  it  was  more 
important  that  His  power  should  be  displayed, 
than  that  they  should  be  preserved, — that  the  de- 
moniac should  be  delivered,  than  that  they  should 
live.  He  "gave  them  leave"  He  did  not  com- 
mand them,  but  left  them  simply  to  take  their 
own  course.  He  granted  their  request.  "  Oh," 
say  some,  "  we  are  too  sinful  to  pray,  too  depraved 
for  Christ  to  answer  us."  What,  are  you  worse 
than  these  devils?  They  cried,  and  Jesus  an- 
swered them ;  and  will  He  not  answer  those  who 
plead  His  own  words  ?  But  will  not  the  conduct 
of  these  devils  condemn  the  prayerless  one? 
They  had  no  promise  to  plead,  yet  they  prayed ; 
thou  hast  many,  but  thy  voice  is  never  heard. 

Thus,  then,  the  incurable  was  cured,  and  the 
demoniac  of  the  tombs  became  a  trophy  of  Divine 
power  and  an  epistle  of  Divine  love.  The  deliv- 
erance was  miraculous,  and  it  was  free;  and 


88  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

how  free  is  that  grace  which  brings  us  from  the 
bondage  of  Satan  and  the  slavery  of  sin !  It  was 
complete  also, — the  entire  legion  was  driven  out 
of  the  man ;  and  Jesus  will  carry  on  His  work 
until  sin  is  completely  destroyed  in  His  people ; 
and  the  period  will  come  when  He  who  saved  the 
poor  Gadarene  from  his  foes,  will  loosen  us  finally 
and  for  ever  from  the  bonds  of  mortality  and  sin, 
to  gather  us  around  His  throne,  to  serve  Him 
without  molestation  for  ever. 

And  the  poor  Gadarene,  that  was  so  delivered, 
was  beheld  sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  "  clothed 
and  in  his  right  mind.'1'1  The  mercy  of  Jesus  is 
the  only  medicine  of  the  soul.  When  He  heals 
the  conscience,  He  enlightens  the  mind.  The 
Gadarene  came  to  himself  when  he  came  to  Jesus. 
A  right  mind  brought  him  to  a  right  place — to 
sit  in  humility  and  love  at  the  feet  of  his  Saviour. 
And  when  Jesus  forgives  a  man  his  sins,  he  will 
ever  take  the  lowest  place,  while  his  chief  anxiety 
will  be  to  put  the  crown  upon  the  head  of  his  re- 
deeming Lord. 

And  He  who  gave  mental  vigour  to  the  de- 
moniac's mind,  gave  decent  clothing  to  his  back  ; 
and  when  Jesus  pardons  the  soul,  He  clothes  it 
with  righteousness — a  righteousness  which  His 
own  hands  have  wrought,  which  outshines  the 
heavens  in  their  brightness,  and  which  shall  never 
decay.  And  when  this  transpires,  "  the  lame 
man  leaps  as  the  hart,  while  the  tongue  of  the 


CHRIST   AND   THE   DEMONIAC.  89 

dumb  is  made  to  sing ;"  the  heart  is  made  glad, 
while  the  lips  exclaim,  with  the  church  of  old, 
"  I  will  greatly  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  my  soul  shall 
be  joyful  in  my  God ;  for  he  hath  clothed  me 
with  the  garments  of  salvation,  he  hath  covered 
me  with  the  robe  of  righteousness,  as  a  bride- 
groom decketh  himself  with  ornaments,  and  as  a 
bride  adorneth  herself  with  her  jewels." 

How  dignified  was  the  position,  now,  of  the  de- 
spised demoniac.  0  favoured  Gadarene !  brought 
from  thy  dwelling  among  the  tombs  to  the  feet 
of  Jesus — from  frenzy  and  despair,  to  reason, 
happiness,  and  peace !  Thy  soul,  once  a  chamber 
of  devils,  now  a  temple  for  God,  the  home  of  His 
Spirit,  and  the  throne  of  His  Son ;  once  a  lodge 
of  desolation,  now  a  palace  of  joy ;  once  a  waste 
howling  wilderness,  now  a  very  Carmel  of  fruit- 
fulness  and  joy !  And  when  the  redeemed  shall 
have  reached  the  presence  of  Jesus  above,  all 
clothed  in  their  spotless  robes,  and  all  their  men- 
tal powers  attuned  to  the  harmonies  of  heaven, 
freed  for  ever  from  the  guilt  and  frenzy  of  sin, 
oh,  what  a  picture  of  purity  and  joy  will  appear 
for  ever,  to  mirror  forth  the  love  of  God's  heart ! 
And  when  those  so  favoured,  looking  down  from 
the  heights  of  glory  to  the  regions  of  death  they 
once  inhabited,  the  city  of  tombs  in  which  they 
once  dwelt ;  and  where,  clothed  in  the  raiment 
of  corruption  and  habiliments  of  sorrow  and 
shame,  like  the  poor  Gadarene,  they  once  wan- 


90  LESSONS   FKOM   JESUS. 

dered,  the  very  pictures  of  ruin  and  vocal  epi- 
taphs of  despair,  how  will  the  song  of  grateful 
adoration  for  ever  ascend  to  Him  who  cast  off 
the  shining  robes  of  glory,  and  forsook  the  realms 
of  light,  to  visit  and  to  save  them  from  them- 
selves and  their  foes ;  to  transform  them  from  the 
frenzied  maniacs  of  sin,  and  demons  of  darkness, 
into  children  of  light  and  heirs  of  a  blissful  im- 
mortality. To  lift  them  from  a  moral  charnel- 
house,  and  the  gates  of  perdition,  to  a  mansion  of 
glory  and  the  presence  of  the  King  of  kings  and 
Lord  of  lords. 

"  And  when  he  was  come  into  the  ship,  he  that  had 
been  possessed  with  the  devil  prayed  him  that  he  might 
be  with  him" 

The  wounded  patient  desires  to  keep  near  to 
the  friendly  hand  which  binds  up  his  wounds. 
The  timid  lamb,  which  has  been  exposed  to  the 
storm,  loves  to  nestle  in  the  shepherd's  bosom, 
where  it  found  shelter  from  the  blast.  The  heart 
that  has  been  wounded  by  sin  seeks  to  keep  near 
to  the  physician  who  heals;  and  he  who  has 
passed  through  the  deep  waters  of  soul  tribulation, 
would  ever  abide  with  Him  whose  Almighty  hand 
plucked  him  from  its  waves. 

"  And  he  departed,  and  began  to  publish  in  Deca- 
polis  how  great  things  Jesus  had  done  for  him :  and 
all  men  did  marvel"  And  who  can  wonder  at 
this?  had  he  remained  silent  the  very  stones  of 
the  streets  would  have  cried  out  against  him. 


CHRIST  AND   THE   DEMONIAC.  91 

And  who  better  qualified  to  preach  than  he  ?  He 
had  been  in  Satan's  service,  and  could  expose  his 
tyranny  : — he  could  not  only  speak  of  his  chains, 
but  show  the  scars  in  his  flesh; — his  wounds 
would  give  force  to  his  language,  and  make  his 
words  understood.  His  lips  have  poured  forth 
blasphemies ;  they  shall  now  utter  truth ;  Hell 
had  made  his  voice  the  organ  of  despair;  Jesus 
will  make  it  the  trumpet  of  his  fame,  through 
which  he  will  proclaim  liberty  to  the  captive  and 
the  discomfiture  of  Satan.  His  savage  yells  have 
alarmed  and  annoyed  many ;  but  Christ  has  se- 
lected that  bruised  reed,  and  the  Spirit  of  God  will 
now  breathe' through  it  strains  of  sweetest  music. 
And  this  is  the  way  that  Jesus  makes  all  his 
preachers.  He  sends  them  not  to  make  known 
their  own  inventions,  nor  to  proclaim  human 
systems,  but  to  tell  what  he  has  done  for  them. 
The  heart  must  teach  the  lip,  if  the  Word  is  to 
fall  with  power :  real  eloquence  has  its  basis  in 
sincerity,  and  gathers  its  arguments  from  love. 

This  poor  Gadarene  wandered  among  the  tombs, 
and  was  the  sport  of  Satan ;  but  still  he  was  a 
man,  and  Jesus  visited  him ;  and  hence  we  may 
gather  lessons  from  his  life.  Let  us  never  despise 
the  worst  of  our  fellow-creatures,  much  less  treat 
them  with  contempt  and  scorn. 

Let  us  remember  we  are  all  implicated  in  the 
same  condemnation,  and  that  if  we  have  not  gone 
to  the  same  lengths  of  sin,  or  been  mastered  by 


92  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS.' 

precisely  the  same  spiritual  adversaries,  we  have 
all  been  enslaved,  and  thus  we  should  have  con- 
tinued but  for  the  grace  of  him  who  liberated  the 
poor  Gadarene.  And  let  us  imitate  this  poor  man, 
who  not  only  sat  at  the  feet  of  his  great  Deliverer 
in  faith,  humility,  and  love,  to  learn  more  of  His 
grace,  but  went  forth  to  publish  His  fame.  Oh, 
who  should  make  known  the  power  of  Jesus,  but 
those  whom  he  has  freed  ?  Who  should  speak  of 
His  mercy,  but  those  whose  wounds  it  has  healed  ? 
Who  should  exalt  His  love,  but  those  who  have 
tasted  its  sweetness  ?  or  magnify  His  grace,  but 
those  who  have  proved  its  efficacy  to  sanctify  and 
save  ?  And  seeing  that  it  is  more  than  equal  to 
the  wants  and  woes  of  the  worst,  let  us  aim  to 
make  it  known  to  the  worst,  and  let  it  be  our 
delight  and  joy  to  imitate  our  Lord,  and  proclaim 
liberty  to  the  captive  and  the  opening  of  the  pri- 
son to  the  bound. 

Does  this  meet  the  eye  of  one  who  has  found 
the  service  of  sin  to  be  hard  and  the  yoke  of 
Satan  to  be  heavy;  who  has  tried  to  break 
asunder  the  chains  by  which  bound,  again  and 
again,  but  has  failed;  whose  efforts  have  only 
seemed  to  add  to  their  weight,  and  who  has  set- 
tled down  in  despair,  giving  up  all  for  lost.  Give 
up  all  for  lost,  while  He  lives  whose  word  drove 
out  a  legion  of  devils  from  the  soul  of  the  poor 
Gadarene !  Give  up  all  for  lost  while  He  lives 
who  heard  even  the  prayer  of  devils ;  who  saved 


CHRIST  AND   THE   DEMONIAC.  93 

the  dying  thief,  even  at  the  last  hour,  and  who 
has  said  that  all  who  seek  shall  find!  What 
madness  is  this !  Why,  thou  hast  been  mad  so  to 
yield  to  sin  as  to  become  thus  bound ;  mad  thus 
to  cut  and  wound  thyself;  but  thy  despair — this 
is  the  crowning-  act  of  thy  madness.  There  is  a 
hand  that  can  loosen  thee,  a  voice  that  can  free 
thee,  mercy  that  can  heal  thee,  blood  that  can 
cleanse  thee,  a  robe  which  can  clothe  thee,  grace 
which  can  renew  thee,  a  present,  living  and  Al- 
mighty Friend  that  can  save  thee.  Thou  knowest 
his  name — Jesus,  the  Sinner's  Friend.  Cease  thy 
own  labours  then,  and  look  to  Him.  Go  to  Him 
again  and  again ;  though  thou  fallest  seven  times 
a-day  still  go — still  cry,  cease  not — plead  His 
merits,  hide  not  thy  sins  nor  thy  fears ;  and  be 
assured  that  in  the  end  He  will  come  forth  to  thy 
deliverance  and  joy. 

"  Desponding  soul, 

Thy  grief  control, 
One  true  Friend  is  near  thee ; 

Thy  heart  may  ache, 

Yet  comfort  take, 
Jesus  will  not  leave  thee. 

He  knows  thy  fears — 
He  counts  thy  tears — 
'He  riseth  at  thy  sigh;' 
And  from  above 
His  look  of  love 
Meets  thine  uplifted  eye. 


94  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

Thy  sorrows  great 

He  will  abate ; 
Not  long  does  He  contend : 

Let  patient  faith 

Rest  where  He  saith, 
'  There  surely  is  an  end.' 

'  The  Lord  with  you,' 
Thy  foes  pursue, 
'  Go  forth  in  this  thy  might :' 
Thy  own  strength  small, 
Yet  they  shall  faU, 
Or  make  a  speedy  flight. 

Now  grasp  thy  shield, 

And  never  yield, 
Thou  wounded,  weary  saint ; 

God  cannot  lie — 

Oh,  to  Him  fly, 
And  thou  shalt  never  faint." 

H.  W. 


"  Hope,  0  ye  broken  hearts,  at  last  1 

The  King  comes  on  in  might ! 
He  loved  us  in  the  ages  past, 

When  we  sat  wrapp'd  in  night. 

Now  are  our  sorrows  o'er, 
And  fear  and  wrath  to  joy  give  place, 
Since  God  hath  made  us  in  His  grace, 

His  children  evermore. 

0  rich  the  gifts  thou  bring'st  to  us, 

Thyself  made  poor  and  weak ; 
0  love  beyond  compare  that  thus 

Can  foes  and  sinners  seek  I 

For  this  to  Thee  alone 
"We  raise  on  high  a  gladsome  voice, 
And  evermore  with  thanks  rejoice, 

Before  Thy  glorious  throne." 

RiST. 

"How  wonderful  the  counsels  of  thy  power! 
How  excellent  Thy  working!     How  divine 
That  energy,  which  will  ere  long  conform 
All  thine  to  Thee !     Omnipotently  raise 
Meanness  to  beauty :  helplessness  to  strength : 
Dishonour  to  the  splendour  of  Thy  throne  : 
And  destitution  to  the  wealth  of  heaven." 

SHEPHAED. 


n  Cajjtito  f  aosenti ; 

OB, 

HOPE  FOR  THE  BOUND. 


"  Woman,  thou  art  loosed  from  thine  infirmity" — Luke  xiii.  12. 

THERE  are  many  things  in  this  sad  world  which 
make  the  heart  of  man  to  stoop,  tinge  his  head 
with  grey,  and  cause  his  body  prematurely  to 
bend  towards  that  kindred  earth,  where,  sooner  or 
later,  he  must  find  for  a  time  his  last  home.  To 
the  many  evils  which  sin  has  entailed  upon  man, 
and  by  which  he  is  frequently  oppressed,  must 
also  be  added  those  which  are  brought  upon  him 
through  the  influence  of  Satanic  agency.  Of 
that  influence,  as  exerted  upon  the  body  at  least, 
we  hear  but  little  in  these  modern  times.  That 
our  Saviour  may  have  gathered  in  some  few  links 
of  Apollyon's  chain,  in  this  particular,  is  not 
improbable ;  but  that  he  had  power,  in  by-gone 
ages  grievously  to  afflict  the  body,  as  well  as  the 
mind,  is  abundantly  evident  from  the  Gospel  nar- 
rative. 

9 


98  LESSONS   FftOM   JESUS. 

The  evangelist  Luke  brings  before  us  a  woman 
whom  a  "  spirit  of  infirmity  "  had  bound  for  many 
years ;  and  the  Great  Teacher  tells  us  that  Satanic 
agency  was  the  source  of  her  disease — that  the 
same  hand  which  ravished  the  temple  of  man's 
soul  at  the  beginning,  and  robbed  it  of  all  its 
celestial  furniture,  with  infernal  malice,  had  so 
maltreated  the  frail  tenement  in  which  she  dwelt, 
that  for  eighteen  years  she  had  never  stood  'erect. 
During  all  these  years  had  the  great  Adversary 
been  tightening  his  cords  about  her,  and  fre- 
quently, no  doubt,  under  the  influence  of  that 
spirit  of  cruelty  which  ever  lives  in  his  heart, 
rejoiced  at  the  thought  that  he  should  hold  her 
body  in  misery  to  the  end  of  her  days.  Of  the 
intensity  of  diabolical  hate  we  can  scarcely  form 
an  adequate  idea ;  but  who  can  doubt  its  existence 
in  the  mind  of  him  who  felt  a  malicious  delight  in 
the  fearful  agonies  of  the  Son  of  God  ?  His  meat 
and  his  drink  is  to  oppose  the  Almighty,  while  the 
sufferings  of  God's  creatures  ever  add  additional 
relish  to  his  infernal  repast.  Misery'  into  the 
heart  of  Christ  he  cannot  now  introduce,  or  he 
would.  But  as  he  cannot  reach  the  Master,  he 
will,  if  possible,  wound  Him  through  those  who 
love  and  obey  Him.  Could  he  accomplish  his  will, 
he  would  fill  God's  creation  to  overflowing  with 
the  same  hatred,  bitterness,  and  despair,  which 
dwell  in  himself  without  diminution  or  vent. 

This  being  the  temper  of  man's  great  foe,  the 

/ 


THE   CAPTIVE   LOOSENED.  99 

sighs  of  this  "  daughter  of  Abraham,"  whom  he 
had  smitten,  were  music  to  his  ears,  while  her 
tears  had  been  his  solace,  as  he  gazed  upon  her 
tottering  steps  and  drooping  form.  He  had  seen 
her  brow  furrowed  with  care,  and  marked  her 
fruitless  attempts  to  break  his  bonds.  She,  poor 
creature,  had  often  thought  the  hour  seemed  long, 
and  with  her  the  days  rolled  wearily  away.  Into 
the  bosom  of  paternal  love  she  had  often  poured 
out  her  grief;  and,  like  Paul,  besought  the  Lord 
many  times  to  remove  "the  thorn"  from  the  flesh. 
Again,  and  again,  had  she  cried  to  the  Lord  for 
that  help  which  she  could  not  find  in  herself  or 
her  friends  ;  and  which  all  the  skill  of  this  world 
failed  to  bring.  But  the  answer  was  delayed;  the 
cloud  still  hung  upon  her  path,  and  her  foe  revelled 
in  her  grief.  The  summer  came,  and  the  earth 
rejoiced  in  its  fresh  mantle  of  beauty;  the  birds 
sang  with  joy,  and  all  around  her  appeared  happy ; 
but  her  burden  remained :  the  summer  departed, 
and  in  the  lap  of  winter  nature  slept  to  regain  her 
strength ;  but  her  body  remained  weak.  The  sun 
gilded  her  path  by  day,  and  the  stars  smiled  upon 
her  by  night,  but  she  could  not  look  up.  Her 
neighbours  tripped  gaily  along,  and  the  sons  of 
Belial  walked  proudly  erect  by  her  side,  and  some- 
times, it  may  be,  she  did  think  it  hard  that  the 
God  of  her  fathers  appeared  to  shut  out  her  pray- 
ers, and  her  body  still  pressed  towards  the  earth. 
But  the  day  of  her  deliverance  came.  "  And 


100  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

, 

when  Jesus. saw  her;"  what,  had  He  not  seen 
her  before  ?  Yes,  doubtless,  her  history  was  well 
known  to  Him.  "  Behold,  these  eighteen  years  she 
hath  been  bound"  said  he ;  while  these  years  passed 
tediously  along,  she  could  scarcely  help  thinking 
that  her  sorrows  were  entirely  overlooked ;  but  the 

>  days  of  her  affliction  were  numbered,  and  the  time 
appointed  when  they  should  cease  had  now  arrived. 
He  who  counted  the  stars  will  not  be  too  late, 
either  to  confound  her  adversary,  or  loosen  her 
bonds.  Satan  had  not  had  the  house  entirely  to 
himself.  Could  he  have  pulled  down  its  walls  he 
would  have  done  so  with  fiendish  glee ;  but  Christ 
held  them  up.  She  was  a  "  daughter  of  Abraham" 
and  that  stooping  and  oft  weary  body  was  His 
temple ;  He  knew  the  place  well,  and  it  had  long 
been  determined  that  Satan's  cruel  work  should  all 
be  undone. 

And  now  the  eye  of  Christ  is  upon  her;  yes,  He 
looks  upon  the  poor,  and  despises  not  the  weak. 

* a  He  saw  her;"  did  her  beauty  attract  Him? 
Alas,  no :  she  was  deformed  and  bound.  Still  He 
looked  upon  her,  and  mercy  beams  from  His  eye, 
while  love  moves  His  heart.  0  favoured  woman, 
to  excite  the  attention  of  Him  whom  angels  obey ; 
to  command  His  regard,  whose  favour  is  life. 
Upon  her  deformed  body  the  curious  had  often 
gazed,  and  ignorant  mirth  had  sometimes  pointed 
the  finger  of  scorn ;  the  wise  had  pondered  the 
cause  of  her  infirmity,  and  the  benevolent  expressed 


THE   CAPTIVE   LOOSENED.  101 

a  passing  regret.  But  now  ONE  sees  her  who  will 
not  only  look,  but  help ;  not  only  speak,  but  cure; 
— "  Woman,  thou  art  loosed  from  thine  infirmity!" 
Oh,  what  a  surprise,  what  a  deliverance  was  this ! 
How  unexpected,  how  free !  Her  only  merit  was 
disease,  but  one  word  brings  her  cure.  She  now 
stands  erect,  and  her  lips  pour  forth  praise.  Oh, 
how  easily  the  sinner  conquers  when  Jesus  gives 
him  strength !  while  he  struggles  alone  with  his 
sin,  how  vain  his  efforts  to  rise ;  but  when  Christ 
speaks  the  word,  the  conscience  goes  free ;  then 
faith  finds  a  refuge,  and  Christ  makes  a  friend. 
0  sinner,  would'st  thou  be  free  ?  take  thy  bonds 
to  Christ ;  look  to  His  blood  for  thy  pardon,  and 
to  His  grace  to  subdue  all  thy  sins. 

The  woman  is  free,  and  He  who  has  released  her 
body  has  loosened  her  tongue.  And  will  she  praise 
a  man?  "And  she  glorified  GOD!"  Who  but 
God  could  have  loosed  her  ?  And  can  she  be 
silent  ?  All  her  movements  are  vocal — every  step 
utters  praise.  The  broken'  harp  is  retuned,  all  its 
strings  are  awake,  and  in  the  man  who  has  healed 
her,  she  finds  the  God  whom  she  adores.  On  that 
once  infirm  body  Christ  has  now  written  His  name, 
and  men  while  they  read  it,  shall  exclaim,  u  This 
is  the  Lord's  doing!"  0  Satan,  thine  eighteen 
years'  labour  has  glorified  Christ !  was  this  thine 
intention  ?  Where  once  thy  malice  was  seen,  now 
the  grace  of  the  Lord  :  will  this  serve  thy  cause? 
Men  now  see  thou  art  cruel,  and  Jesus  is  love ; 


102  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

that  thou  art  weak,  and  Jesus  is  strong ;  that  thou 
art  foolish  and  Jesus  is  wise.  A  weak  woman  is 
thy  master,  and  what  can'st  thou  say  ?  Thou 
did'st  pull  down  her  body — it  now  pulls  down 
thee;  through  her  weakness  thou  did'st  wound  her 
— her  weakness  now  wounds  thee ;  her  frail  body 
shall  bruise  thee — the  body  thou  did'st  bruise. 
See  the  woman  walks  erect !  Try,  now,  can'st 
thou  make  her  stoop  ?  Come,  now,  scheme,  labour, 
toil — speak  !  Ah,  'tis  vain !  mercy  has  lifted  her 
up  to  proclaim  thy  defeat,  and  to  exhibit  His 
power,  which  thou  art  ever  seeking  to  hide. 
Thus  the  Captain  of  Salvation  spoils  the  works 
of  the  devil,  plucks  from  his  hands  the  heralds 
of  his  fame,  and  makes  his  malice  but  the  foil  of 
His  love. 

Let  us  rejoice  in  these  truths ;  but  let  us  not 
forget  that  we  have  drooping  souls  now,  who  stoop 
by  the  way,  and  who  in  bondage  through  fear,  can 
scarcely  look  up ;  who  feel  their  bonds,  and  sigh 
for  relief;  who  carry  their  chains,  and  cannot  get 
free.  Let  us  point  such  to  Christ ;  let  us  speak 
of  His  blood ;  let  us  tell  them  of  His  grace,  and 
of  His  power  to  save.  Has  Christ  made  us  free  ? 
Has  His  love  melted  our  chains  ?  And  shall  we  be 
silent  among  the  captives  of  hell  ?  God  forbid ! 
may  all  our  movements  declare,  all  our  words 
loudly  proclaim,  that  Christ  has  redeemed  us,  and 
lives  to  loosen  the  bound.  Can  we  expect  to  enjoy 
Christ  if  we  serve  not  His  cause?  Why  passes 


THE   CAPTIVE   LOOSENED.  103 

the  church  homewards  through  the  world's  high- 
way so  frequently  like  a  decrepit  woman  whom 
Satan  has  bound  ?  Because  she  lives  so  much  to 
herself,  and  so  little  to  her  Lord ;  looks  so  much 
at  her  burdens,  and  so  seldom  to  Him.  And  what 
must  arouse  her,  and  quicken  her  movements  on- 
. wards  and  upwards  ?  The  voice  of  her  Beloved. 
And  how  is  she  to  hear  it  ?  Through  the  Gospel 
of  His  grace,  and  the  breath  of  His  Spirit.  Then 
let  us  cleave  to  the  former,  and  pray  for  the  latter  ; 
and  let  us  anticipate  the  period,  when  the  voice  of 
Christ  again  shall  be  heard,  and  when,  spreading 
His  hands  over  the  dust  of  His  sleeping  Church, 
she  shall  arise,  and  standing  upon  the  shining 
summit  of  everlasting  day,  shall  no  longer  appear 
like  a  stooping  woman  whom  Satan  has  bound, 
but  like  a  youthful  bride  adorned  for  her  husband, 
to  exhibit  His  glory  and  laud  His  name. 

"  Thou  who  breakest  every  chain, 

Thou  who  still  art  ever  near, 
Thou  with  whom  disgrace  and  paia, 

Turn  to  joy  and  heaven,  e'en  here ; 
Let  thy  further  judgments  fall 

On  the  Adam  strong  within, 
Till  Thy  grace  hath  freed  us  all 

From  the  prison  house  of  sin. 

'Tis  Thy  Father's  will  toward  us, 

Thou  should'st  end  Thy  work  at  length ; 

Hence  in  thee  are  centred  thus, 
Perfect  wisdom,  love,  and  strength, 


104  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

That  Thou  none  should'st  lose  of  those 
Whom  He  gave  Thee,  though  they  roam 

'Wilder1  d  here  amid  their  foes, 

Thou  should'st  bring  them  safely  home. 

Ah,  Thou  wilt,  Thou  can'st  not  cease, 

Till  Thy  perfect  work  be  done ; 
In  Thy  hands  we  lie  at  peace, 

Knowing  all  Thy  love  hath  won. 
Though  the  world  may  blindly  dream 

"We  are  captives,  poor  and  base, 
And  the  cross's  yoke  may  deem 

Sign  of  meanness  and  disgrace. 

Look  upon  our  bonds,  and  see 

How  doth  all  creation  groan 
'Neath  the  yoke  of  vanity  ; 

Make  Thy  full  redemption  known ; 
Still  we  wrestle,  cry,  and  pray ; 

Held  in  bitter  bondage  fast, 
Though  the  soul  would  break  away 

Into  higher  things  at  last. 

Lord  we  do  not  ask  for  rest 

For  the  flesh ;  we  only  pray 
Thou  would'st  do  as  seems  Thee  best, 

Ere  yet  comes  our  parting  day ; 
But  our  Spirit  clings  to  Thee ; 

Will  not,  dare  not,  let  Thee  go, 
Until  Thou  have  set  her  free 

From  the  bonds  that  cause  her  woe. 

Ruler  come,  and  Conqueror  conquer  ; 

King  assert  Thy  sovereign  right, 
Till  there  be  no  slavery  longer. 

Spread  the  kingdom  of  Thy  might! 


THE   CAPTIVE   LOOSENED.  105 

Lead  the  captive  freely  out, 

Through  the  covenant  of  Thy  blood, 
From  our  dark  remorse  and  doubt, 

For  Thou  wilt  alone  our  good. 

'Tis  of  our  own  fault  we  own ; 

We  are  slaves  to  self  and  sloth ; 
Yet,  oh,  leave  us  not  alone 

In  the  living  death  we  loathe ! 
Crush'd  beneath  our  burden's  weight, 

Crying  at  Thy  feet  we  fall ; 
Point  the  path,  though  steep  and  straight, 

Thou  did'st  open  once  for  all. 

Ah !  how  dearly  were  we  bought, 

Not  to  serve  the  world  or  sin ; 
By  the  work  that  Thou  hast  wrought 

Must  Thou  make  us  pure  within, — 
Wholly  pure  and  free,  in  us 

Be  thine  image  now  restored : 
Fill'd  from  out  Thy  fulness  thus 

Grace  for  grace  is  on  us  pour'd. 

Draw  us  to  Thy  cross ;  0  Love, 

Crucify  with  Thee  whate'er 
Cannot  dwell  with  Thee  above, 

Lead  us  to  those  regions  fair  I 
Courage !  long  the  time  may  seem, 

Yet  His  day  is  coming  fast ; 
We  shall  be  like  them  that  dream, 

When  our  freedom  dawns  at  last." 

GOTTFRIED  ARNOLD,  1697. 
Lyra  Germanica. 


5* 


"  0  Father-eye,  that  hath  so  truly  watched, 
0  Father-hand,  that  hath  so  gently  led, 
0  Father-heart,  that  by  my  prayer  is  touched, 

That  loved  me  first  when  I  was  cold  and  dead : 
Still  do  Thou  lead  me  on  with  faithful  care 

The  narrow  path  to  heaven,  where  I  would  go, 
And  train  me  for  the  life  that  waits  me  there, 

Alike  through  love  and  loss,  through  weal  and  woe." 

SPITTA. 

"It  is  a  sign  some  beam  of  heavenly  wisdom  hath  sinned  into 
that  soul,  which  findeth  itself  empty  of  true  saving  wisdom."— 
*    John  xvi.  8,  9.     2  Cor.  iv.  6. 
«  BAIN. 


anir  Ijjt  glhrtr  U 

OR, 

A  GUIDE  FOR  THE  PERPLEXED. 


"  And  Tie  took  the  blind  man  by  the  hand,  and  led  "kirn  out 
of  the  town." — Mark  viii.  23. 

As  the  lover  of  art,  when  passing  through  those 
galleries  which  are  filled  with  the  works  of  the 
great  masters,  frequently  has  his  attention  excited 
and  his  admiration  called  forth  by  the  discovery 
of  some  new  beauty  springing  forth  from  that 
force  and  freshness  which  ever  mark  the  produc- 
tions of  genius,  so  the  believer,  as  in  meditation 
he  passes  through  the  gallery  of  Divine  Revela- 
tion, frequently  meets  with  pictures  so  full  of 
grace,  and  pregnant  with  spiritual  instruction,  that 
with  the  poet  he  is  compelled  to  exclaim : — 

"  Father  of  mercies !  in  Thy  word 

What  endless  glory  shines ! 
For  ever  be  Thy  name  adored, 
For  these  celestial  lines." 


108  LESSONS  FKOM  JESUS.  ^ 

Among  tke  choicest  gems  of  the  Cabinet  of 
Truth,  perhaps  none  is  more  attractive  than  that 
presented  by  the  divine  historian  above, — Jesus 
leading  the  blind  man  forth  from  the  town  of 
Bethsaida. 

How  marvellous  the  grouping ;  how  striking 
the  contrast!  Here  we  see  mercy  and  misery, 
darkness  and  light,  health  and  disease,  omnipo- 
tence and  frailty,  locked  hand  in  hand,  and  walk- 
ing through  the  streets  together.  Hundreds  of 
years  before,  this  interesting  scene  had  filled  the 
prophetic  eye  of  the  seraphic  Isaiah,  when  he 
wrote  thus  of  the  Shiloh  of  his  people :  "  He  shall 
lead  the  blind  by  a  way  that  they  know  not,  and 
in  paths  which  they  have  not  known."  There  we 
have  the  seed,  here  the  flower  in  full  bloom; 
there  the  prophetic  sketch,  here  the  picture  com- 
pleted and  filled  in  by  the  hand  of  the  Master 
Himself ;  and  should  it  not  be  prized  by  us,  espe- 
cially as  it  so  richly  portrays  His  dealings  with 
ourselves  ?  Believing  that  the  life  of  Christ  illus- 
trated His  doctrine,  and  not  only  embodies  the 
substance  of  His.  teaching,  but  is  its  most  vivid 
exponent,  let  us  look  at  our  Lord  as  He  traverses 
the  streets  of  Bethsaida.  May  the  Holy  Spirit 
instruct  us,  as  we  follow  Him  in  His  pilgrimage 
of  mercy,  and  may  our  hearts  be  deeply  affected 
by  our  contemplations. 

"  And  he  took  the  blind  man  by  the  hand"  Let 
us  look  at  this  poor  man  awhile ;  he  claimed  the 


JESUS   AND   THE   BLIND   MAN.  109 

attention  of  Christ,  why  should  lie  not  have  ours  ; 
he  cannot  see,  but  he  may  exhibit  ourselves.  He 
is  in  the  midst  of  the  town,  and  surrounded  with 
objects,  but  he  sees  them  not.  Art  may  exhibit 
her  stores,  and  Nature  her  charms,  but  they  affect 
him  not.  Spring  throws  her  flowers  beneath  his 
feet,  Summer  spreads  her  varied  glories,  and  Au- 
tumn her  richest  tints,  but  he  heeds  them  not; 
all  around  him  rejoices  with  an  exuberance  of  joy, 
but  he  rejoices  not.  The  sun  falls  upon  his  path, 
but  nature  is  ever  clothed  in  sackcloth  to  him ; 
the  ebon  curtains  of  a  perpetual  night  enfold  him 
in  their  embrace  without  one  solitary  star  to 
relieve  the  gloom.  He  sleeps,  but  it  is  night ;  he 
awakes,  but  there  is  no  morning.  Sad  condition  : 
still  sadder  that  of  which  it  is  but  a  faint  type : 
"  Ye  were  darkness"  says  the  Apostle  ;  not  in  the 
dark,  but  darkness.  We  were  in  the  midst  of 
light,  but  it  reached  not  the  mind ;  the  cataract 
of  sin  permitted  no  single  ray  to  pass;  and  so 
deep  was  the  darkness,  that  though  we  stood  in 
the  midst  of  this  fair  creation,  yet  we  perceived 
not  its  great  Author,  or,  if  we  perceived  Him,  our 
language  was,  u  Depart  from  us,  for  we  desire  not 
the  knowledge  of  thy  ways"  We  sometimes,  too, 
went  into  the  field  of  Divine  Kevelation,  but 
beheld  not  its  chief  glory ;  or,  when  our  eye  fell 
upon  Him  to  whom  all  the  prophets  gave  witness, 
we  declared  Him  to  be  "a  root  out  of  a  dry 
10 


110  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

ground,  having  no  form  nor  comeliness  that  we 
should  desire  him." 

Of  this  poor  blind  man  we  observe :  He  was 
exposed  to  great  danger, — he  was  in  the  midst  of  a 
town,  liable  at  any  moment  to  be  injured  or  de- 
stroyed. And  how  great  is  our  danger  as  blinded 
by  sin  ; — foes  within  us  and  foes  without  us,  yet 
insensible  to  our  condition  ;  encompassed  by. the 
snares  of  Hell,  exposed  to  the  curse  of  God,  and 
liable  at  any  moment  to  be  struck  down  by  death, 
and  hurried  to  the  bar  of  God. 

He  was  past  human  help.  His  friends  took  him 
to  Jesus  ;  they  had,  no  doubt,  exhausted  all  their 
skill,  and  this  was  their  last  resource.  Possibly 
they  belonged  to  the  literati  of  their  country; 
were  educated  and  polite,  philosophical  as  well  as 
kind,  but  they  could  not  restore  his  sight,  they 
could  not  give  eyes  to  the  blind.  And  who  can 
break  in  upon  the  gloom  and  darkness  of  the  sin- 
imprisoned  mind ;  who  can  cast  into  its  deep  re- 
cesses that  vivid  ray  which  dispels  the  dark  night 
of  prejudice,  ignorance,  and  enmity  so  that  Jesus 
is  seen  as  He  is  ?  Philosophy  here  is  foiled  ;  edu- 
cation labours  in  vain  ;  science  and  art  pour  forth 
their  gentle,  humanising  radiance  in  vain ;  clothed 
in  more  than  Cimmerian  darkness,  the  soul  still 
toils  on  in  the  midst  of  its  desolation,  and  God 
still  remains  unloved,  because  unknown.  "  God 
who  commandeth  the  light  to  shine  out  of  dark- 
ness, must  shine  into  our  hearts  to  give  us  the  light 


JESUS   AND   THE   BLIND   MAN.  Ill 

of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face 
of  Jesus  Christ." 

"He  took  him  by  the  hand"  Did  He  forget  He 
was  the  Son  of  God  ?  Oh,  no !  nor  was  it  need- 
ful he  should ;  for  never  are  the  great  so  exalted 
as  when  they  stoop  to  the  help  of  misery,  and 
endeavour  to  raise  those  who  but  for  their  aid 
must  be  for  ever  fallen.  He  was  not  ashamed  to 
do  good,  or  too  great  to  be  useful.  Are  we 
ashamed  to  grasp  the  hand  of  honest  poverty,  or 
to  be  seen  identified  with  misery  ?  If  so,  let  us 
not  call  ourselves  the  disciples  of  Him  who  led 
the  blind  man,  through  the  town  of  Bethsaida; 
but  let  us  seek  to  have  this  scene  painted  upon 
the  walls  of  our  memory,  and  engraven  upon  our 
hearts,  until,  constrained  by  the  love  of  Jesus, 
and  following  His  example,  we  are  declared  to  be 
one  in  spirit  with  Him  who  said,  "  If  any  man 
will  be  my  disciple,  let  him  deny  himself,  and 
take  up  his  cross  and  follow  me." 

"He  took  him  by  the  hand."  He  was  sufficiently 
familiar  to  be  useful.  "Oh,"  say  the  rich,  "we 
wish  we  could  serve  the  poor;"  then  do  not  visit 
them  in  state:  say  the  educated,  "We  desire  to 
instruct  the  ignorant;"  then  address  them  in 
their  own  language. 

"  Jesus  took  him  by  the  hand"  He  did  not  say, 
"  Do  you  take  hold  of  my  hand,"  or  "  Keep  by  my 
side,  and  I  will  conduct  you  out  of  the  city." 
No;  but  "He  took  him  by  the  hand"  Neither 


112  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

does  Jesus  say  to  the  dark,  the  guilty,  and  the 
self-condemned,  "  Now,  do  you  do  such  and  such 
things,  and  then  I  will  help  you;  get  you  so 
much  light,  and  then  I  will  shine  upon  you; 
make  yourselves  so  far  righteous,  and  I  will  sup- 
ply that  which  you  lack.'7  No ;  but  He  shines 
upon  the  soul  freely,  reveals  His  glory,  and  gives 
faith  to  the  soul,  while  he  exclaims,  "Believe,  and 
live." 

"  He  took  him  by  the  hand.''1  Yes,  though  the 
blind  man  saw  Him  not,  and  knew  not  the  cha- 
racter of  Him  who  led  him  through  the  town. 
And  what  knew  we  of  Jesus  when  Pie  first  visited 
us  ?  Little  thought  we  that  the  truths  which  so 
deeply  affected  our  minds  at  first,  and  from  the 
influence  of  which  we  could  not  escape,  were  but 
the  omnipotent  fingers  of  Jesus,  grasping  our 
immortal  spirits,  and  seeking  to  draw  us  to  Him- 
self. Had  He  consulted  us  ere  He  thus  led  us, 
we  should,  it  may  be,  have  repelled  His  advances; 
but  He  drew  us  with  the  cords  of  love  and  the 
bands  of  a  man,  and  thus  fulfilled  his  own  decla- 
ration: "I  taught  Ephraim  also  to  go,  leading 
them  by  their  arms ;  and  they  knew  not  that  I 
healed  them." 

"He  led  him"  The  blind  man  was  willing  to 
be  led — most  blind  men  are ;  and  when  men  are 
conscious  of  their  own  ignorance  arid  liability  to 
err,  to  mistake  the  way  which  leads  to  heaven, 
they  are  glad  to  take  Christ  for  their  guide. 


JESUS   AND   THE   BLIND   MAN.  113 

While  men  vainly  deem  their  own  wit  and  wis- 
dom sufficient  to  conduct  them  safely  through  the 
mazes  of  life,  and  to  the  home  of  the  blest,  they 
will  never  seek  the  direction  of  Him  who  has 
promised  "  to  guide  His  people  with  His  eye,  and 
to  counsel  them  in  the  way  they  should  go." 

"  Pie  LED  Azm."  He  did  not  forget  He  was 
leading  a  blind  man,  and  accommodated  His  pace 
to  the  condition  of  His  patient.  Had  he  moved 
too  quickly,  the  man  might  have  fallen.  Some  are 
too  quick  of  understanding  to  be  of  much  service 
to  others ;  their  minds  move  too  rapidly  for  the 
multitude  to  follow  them.  Observe  yonder 
young  man  in  the  city  of  error ;  he  is  bewildered 
and  astonished  with  its  numberless  streets  and 
multitudinous  turnings — some  this  way  and  some 
that.  A  palace  now  attracts  his  attention ; 
"What  a  magnificent  pile  of  architecture!"  he 
exclaims.  "  Nonsense !"  replies  a  person  hastily 
passing  by ;  and  seeking  to  drag  him  after  him, 
as  he  hurries  on.  "  What,  admire  that?"  "Yes, 
I  do,"  exclaims  the  young  man,  resisting  the 
attempt  to  move  him ;  "I  never  saw  a  building 
more  worthy  of  admiration."  Another  person 
arrives,  like  unto  Him  who  led  the  blind  man 
through  the  town  of  Bethsaida,  and,  gently  taking- 
him  by  the  hand,  kindly  asks  him  to  accompany 
Him  into  the  interior;  and,  as  they  gaze  upon 
the  inmates,  the  young  man  grasps  the  hand  of 
his  guide  more  closely,  and  follows  Him  slowly 
10* 


114  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

to  other  parts  of  the  town.  From  the  gay  tho- 
roughfares and  brilliant  streets,  he  is  led  into  the 
dark  alleys  and  squalid  courts.  Still  more  tightly 
does  he  grasp  the  friendly  hand  which  guides 
him,  until  at  last,  and  step  by  step,  he  is  con- 
ducted beyond  the  precincts  of  that  which  he 
once  deemed  to  be  an  illustrious  city.  Is  not  the 
moral  plain?  Through  how  many  mental  mazes, 
streets  of  error,  and  dark  alleys  of  moral  death, 
has  not  Jesus  guided  our  often  faltering  and  un- 
decided feet,  nor  left  us  until  brought  safely  into 
the  field  of  revealed  truth,  and  clear  sunshine  of 
divine  favour?  How  has  He  cleared  up  our 
skies  again  and  again ;  removed  our  perplexities, 
and  said  to  us,  u  This  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  itf 
When  we  could  not  see  our  way  either  to  pardon 
or  peace,  how  kindly  did  He  show  it.  He  took  us 
by  the  hand  when  no  one  else  did,  or  could; 
when  we  must  have  perished,  he  came  to  our 
rescue.  "  When  no  eye  did  pity,  and  when  no 
arm  could  save,  then  it  was  that  His  eye  pitied 
and  His  arm  saved." 


"  Oh  for  such  love  let  rocks  and  hills 

Their  lasting  silence  break  ; 
And  all  harmonious  human  tongues 
The  Saviour's  praises  speak  !" 

"  He  led  him  out  of  the  town"     Jesus  always 
leads  from  danger.    Oh,  what  numberless  dangers 


JESUS   AND   THE   BLIND   MAN.  115 

we  should  escape  if  we  were  always  willing  for 
Him  to  lead  us ! 

"  Out  of  the  tovm."  He  meant  to  cure  him ; 
but  He  did  not  want  fame — the  applause  of  the 
multitude.  His  object  was  simply  to  open  his 
eyes  ;  hence  he  conducted  him  into  privacy.  Be 
assured  of  this,  dear  reader,  that  if  Jesus  opens 
the  eyes  of  your  mind,  he  will  draw  you  away 
from  the  world.  * 

"  And  when  he  had  spit  on  his  eyes,  and  put  his 
hands  upon  him,  he  asked  him  if  he  saiu  aught" 
Very  unlikely  instrumentality,  many  would  have 
thought,  to  open  the  eyes ;  but  thus  it  is  that 
Jesus  is  pleased  to  work,  that  He  may  have  the 
glory  due  to  His  name,  for  God  hath  chosen  "the 
foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  wise, 
and  God  hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world 
to  confound  the  things  which  are  mighty;  and 
base  things  of  the  world,  and  things  which  are 
despised,  hath  God  chosen ;  yea,  and  things  which 
are  not,  to  bring  to  nought  things  that  are." 

"And  he  looked  up."  Whenever  Jesus  savingly 
enlightens  the  mind,  the  character  is  sure  to  be 
elevated.  No  matter  how  debased  we  may  have 
been,  our  affections  will  no  longer  cleave  to  the 
earth.  It  will  no  longer  be  true  of  us  that  we 
resemble  him  of  whom  it  is  written,  that  when  in 
heaven  his  eyes  were  fixed  more  upon  its  golden 
pavement  than  upon  Him  who  sat  on  the  throne. 

" And  he  said,  I  see  men  as  trees,  walking"     A 


116  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

misty  morning  has  frequently  ushered  in  a  glorious 
day ;  and  as  in  nature,  so  in  grace.  Where  light 
from  Jesus  breaks  in  upon  us,  we  see  many  objects, 
but  none  clearly ;  let  not,  therefore,  the  perplexed 
seeker  after  truth  be  discouraged,  but  wait  upon 
the  Lord,  who  will  ever  bring  His  own  work  to  a 
happy  completion. 

"  After  that  he  put  his  hands  again  upon  his  eyes" 
What  a  mercy  Jesus  puts  His  hands  upon  our 
eyes  again  and  again,  and  does  not  despise  us  on 
account  of  our  ignorance  and  slowness  to  learn  ! 
He  could  have  opened  the  poor  man's  eyes  at  once 
had  it  pleased  Him,  but  He  did  not ;  and  He  could 
bring  all  His  people  into  the  light  and  liberty  of 
the  Gospel  at  once  were  it  His  will  to  do  so ;  but 
He  is  pleased  rather  to  lead  many  of  them  pro- 
gressively, step  by  step,-  teaching  them  here  a 
little,  and  there  a  little,  as  they  are  able  to  bear 
it.  Let  us  praise  Him  for  His  grace,  and  take 
heed  of  limiting  the  operations  of  His  Spirit. 

"  And  he  was  restored,  and  saw  every  man 
clearly."  He  who  begins  a  good  work  in  us  will 
carry  it  on  until  it  is  perfected  above.  However 
dubious  our  perceptions  of  the  truth  may  be  at 
first,  if  we  are  willing  and  anxious  to  be  taught, 
Jesus  will  scatter  our  darkness,  nor  leave  us  \intil 
our  hearts  are  established  in  those  truths  which 
are  essential  to  our  safety  and  peace.  "  The  path 
of  the  just  is  as  the  morning  light,  which  increaseth 
unto  the  perfect  day" 


JESUS   AND   THE   BLIND   MAN.  117 

Perhaps  some  who  have  perused  these  thoughts 
may  be  much  distressed  in  reference  to  their  path. 
Be  encouraged,  dear  reader,  to  trust  jour  way  in 
the  hands  of  Him  who  led  the  poor  blind  man 
through  the  town  of  Bethsaida ;  or  is  the  reader 
perplexed  as  to  what  is  the  truth  ?  If  so,  seek  the 
teaching  of  Him  who  opened  the  blind  man's  eyes, 
and  He  will  guide  you  to  establishment  and  rest. 

Are  we  troubled  by  those  whom  we  have  often 
sought  to  lead  in  the  right  way,  but  in  vain,  and 
who  seem  intent  on  their  own  destruction  ?  Let 
us  take  them  to  Him  who  took  the  blind  man  by 
the  hand,  and  who  is  able  to  preserve  them  from 
the  dangers  which  surround  them.  Are  we  con- 
scious that  the  Lord  has  opened  our  eyes?  What 
humility  arid  gratitude  become  us!  How  un- 
seemly it  would  have  been  for  the  blind  man  to 
boast  of  his  sight.  How  offensive  to  the  Lord  must 
spiritual  pride  be  in  those  who  are  indebted  to 
Him  for  both  their  knowledge  and  faith.  Let  us 
cultivate  deep  self-abasement  of  spirit,  and  strive 
to  imitate  Jesus  in  seeking  to  lead  the  ignorant 
from  danger  to  the  paths  of  purity  and  peace. 

Does  the  reader  imagine  he  has  sufficient  wis: 
dom  to  guide  himself  safely  through  life,  and  even 
to  the  kingdom  of  glory  above?  Hear  the  word 
of  God:  "It  is  not  in  man  to  direct  his  steps." 
The  fact  that  God  has  promised  to  guide  His 
people  with  His  eye,  is  sufficient  to  prove  that 
they  cannot  guide  themselves.  Be  assured  of  this, 


118  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

dear  reader,  that  if  you  do  not  seek  the  guidance 
of  Him,  who  in  the  days  of  His  flesh,  took  the 
blind  man  by  the  hand  to  lead  him  from  the  town 
of  Bethsaida,  Satan,  his  great  adversary,  will 
ensnare  your  soul,  and  finally  drag  you  down  to 
eternal  perdition.  Wilt  thou  not,  therefore,  from 
this  time  cry  to  the  Lord,  and  say,  "  My  Father, 
be  thou  the  guide  of  my  youth  ?" 

"  0  Christ,  our  true  and  only  light, 
Illumine  those  who  sit  in  night ; 
Let  those  afar  now  hear  Thy  voice, 
And  in  Thy  fold  with  us  rejoice. 

Fill  with  the  radiance  of  Thy  grace, 
The  souls  now  lost  in  error's  maze, 
And  all  whom  in  their  secret  minds 
Some  dark  delusion  hurts  and  blinds. 

And  all  who  else  have  strayed  from  Thee, 
Oh  gently  seek !     Thy  healing  be 
To  every  wounc^d  conscience  given, 
And  let  them  also  share  Thy  heaven. 

Oh  make  the  deaf  to  hear  Thy  word, 
And  teach  the  dumb  to  speak,  dear  Lord, 
Who  dare  not  yet  the  faith  avow, 
Though  secretly  they  hold  it  now. 

Shine  on  the  darkened  and  the  cold, 
Recall  the  wanderers  from  Thy  fold, 
Unite  those  now  who  walk  apart, 
Confirm  the  weak  and  doubting  heart ; 


JESUS  AND   THE   BLIND   MAN.  119 

So  they  with  us  may  evermore 
Such  grace  with  wondering  thanks  adore, 
And  endless  praise  to  Thee  be  given 
By  all  Thy  church  in  earth  and  heaven." 

J.  HEERMAN.     1630. 

Lyra  Germanica. 


"  Let  those  that  sow  in  sadness  wait 

Till  the  fair  harvest  come ! 
They  shall  confess  their  sheaves  are  great, 
And  shout  the  blessings  home. 

The  seed,  though  buried  long  in  dust, 

Shall  not  deceive  their  hope : 
The  precious  grain  can  ne'er  be  lost, 

For  grace  ensures  the  crop." 

"  Observe,  that  God  conveys  truths  into  the  hearts  of  His  people 
unawares.  As  they  often  expect  and  wait  long  for  knowledge, 
so  they  sometimes  know  before  they  expect.  A  truth,  either  in 
whole  or  in  part,  in  the  matter  or  clearer  light  of  it,  comes  like  a 
thief  into  the  heart,  suddenly,  secretly,  unlocked  for :  in  which 
case  it  is  ever  true,  that  truth  unexpected  is  doubly  welcomed. 
The  way  of  the  Spirit  of  God  is  always  undiscernible  to  flesh 
and  blood.  The  soul  receives  a  thing,  and  the  man  knows  not 
how ;  he  can  (scarce  possibly,  not  at  all)  tell  where,  by  whom, 
or  which  way  it  came  to  him ;  it  was  brought,  and  with  a  most 
blessed,  gracious  sleight  of  hand,  conveyed  into  his  heart.  Yet 
sometimes  truth  enters  in  state ;  and  it  may  be  said  to  make  its 
passage  visibly,  into  the  heart  of  the  man.  The  word  comes 
not  as  a  company  of  thieves,  but  as  a  band  of  soldiers,  with 
weapons  drawn,  and  terrible  shouts,  tearing  open  the  soul  and 
breaking  open  the  iron  gate  of  the  heart,  locked  and  barred  by 
unbelief,  to  secure  that  cursed  crew  of  lusts  garrisoned  within 
it.  The  weapons  of  our  warfare  (saith  the  apostle)  are  mighty 
through  Clod;  the  word  is  mighty,  wonderful  in  strength;  it 
comes  upon  the  soul  as  an  armed  man,  to  spoil  it  of  all  sinful 
treasures,  yea,  of  the  very  life  of  sin.  Sometimes  the  Lord 
proclaims  war,  as  by  an  herald  of  arms  against  a  man,  and 
openly  prepares  for  his  siege  and  battery.  He  surprises  another, 
and  steals  him  into  a  happy  captivity  to  Himself.'1'' — CARYL. 


aid  %  (grototug  Corn; 


OB, 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  DIVINE  LIFE. 


u  For  the  earth  "bring eth  forth  fruit  of  herself ;  first  the 
blade,  then  the  ear,  after  that  the  full  corn  in  the  ear." — 
Mark  iv.  28. 

THIS  world  is  a  pregnant  symbol  of  divine  things 
— a  vast  temple  full  of  sublime  and  beautiful 
forms,  all  of  which  point  to  something  beyond 
themselves.  It  is  a  book  upon  which  God  has 
written  His  name,  in  varied  characters  it  is  true, 
but  plain  enough  to  all  who  wish  to  read  it.  And 
as  we  descend  below  the  surface  of  the  earth  we 
turn  over  many  leaves,  all  of  which  are^  instruc- 
tive; though  it  may  still  be  affirmed  that  this 
book,  like  another  of  which  we  read,  is  compara- 
tively a  sealed  book.  We  have  seen  but  a  few 
of  its  pages ;  the  table  of  its  contents  who  can 
bring  before  us,  or  when  will  it  be  fully  read  ? 
A  glorious  and  gifted  man,  too,  but  recently  de- 
ll 


122  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

parted,  has  pointed  us  to  the  "  testimony  of  the 

rocks."   Yes,  and  they  speak  well,  and  eloquently 

too,  for  God  and  truth.      Men  viewed  them  as 

dry  and  barren  things.     Not  so;   instinct  with 

life,  they  have  a  voice  for  God.     Men  would  have 

made  them  fight  against  their  Maker,  and  have 

forced  their  pointed  summits  through  the  heart 

of  Truth ;  but  they  could  not,  for  even  now  she 

lives,  and  laughs,  and  claps  her  hands  upon  the 

rocks.     "See  here,"  she  says,  pointing  to  them; 

"  behold  God's  cabinet,  in  which  His  wisdom  has 

sealed  up  the  most  ancient  records  of  this  world's 

history,  and  all  confirmatory  of  the  sacred  page. 

I  speak,  and  Nature  speaks;    we  both  agree." 

We  turn  to  these  ancient  records,  and  learn  that 

God  has  ever  made  use  of  the  surface  of  the  earth 

as  a  tablet  on  which  to  write  His  name.     And 

while  this  planet  at  various  periods  has  presented 

many  such  tablets  to  the  sun,  none  of  them  were 

blanks ;  the  same  hand  which  wrote  Belshazzar's 

doom  upon  his  palace  walls  was  ever  present 

to  incribe  upon  them  the  lines  of  wisdom  and 

of  power,  and  intimations  of  a  crowning  design 

more  richly  pregnant  with  the  varied  forms  of 

Almighty  and  unwearied  love.     Never,  however, 

did  the  earth  present  so  bright  a  surface  to  the 

sun  as  that  on  which  we  dwell,  or  so  filled  with 

the  beautiful  and  highly-finished  illustrations  of 

the  perfections  of  its  great  Creator.    The  preceding 

surfaces  were  touched  by  the  finger  of  God  ;  the 


JESUS   AND   THE    GROWING   CORN.  123 

present  bears  the  footprints  of  His  Son,  and  its 
dust  formed  part  of  that  holy  temple  in  which  He 
dwelt  during  His  weary  pilgrimage  below.  On  the 
preceding  tablets  we  mark  the  seal  of  wisdom  and 
power,  while  now,  aided  by  other  light  than  that 
which  comes  from  the  sun,  we  behold  spreading 
around  us  so  many  pictorial  representations  of 
grace,  and  the  whole  of  Nature's  progeny  blending 
their  colours  harmoniously  together  to  paint  forth 
the  glory  of  that  kingdom  of  which  Christ  is  the 
centre  and  head.  Hence  we  view  the  present 
surface  of  this  planet  as  more  honoured  of  God 
than  any  other  which  has  preceded ;  all  its  varied 
products  being  brought  under  tribute  more  im- 
mediately to  Christ.  Its  flowers  form  His  garland, 
its  precious  stones  the  ornaments  of  His  crown. 
There  might  have  been  other  roses  before,  but  they 
did  not  point  to  the  Rose  of  Sharon ;  other  plants, 
but  they  were  not  representative  of  u  the  Plant  of 
Renown."  Instructed,  therefore,  by  God's  book, 
it  is  pleasant  to  contemplate  the  teachings  of 
Nature,  to  listen  to  her  voice ;  and  how  much 
rather  would  we  listen  to  her  sometimes  than  to 
the  lords  of  creation,  for  she  is  not  lordly.  Here 
is  a  tree*  really  a  great  tree — how  many  are  its 
branches,  how  numberless  its  leaves ! — now,  if  we 
venture  to  speak  of  it,  to  notice  or  pass  our  opinion 
upon  it,  it  will  not  throw  its  heavy  branches  upon 
us,  or  twist  its  great  arms  around  us  to  drag  us  to 
the  earth,  much  less  destroy  us,  but  it  will  spread 


124  LESSONS   FKOM  JESUS. 

its  green  mantle  over  us  to  screen  us  from  the  sun, 
yield  us  its  fruit,  and  incite  us  to  muse  or  speak  as 
we  please.  Now,  mark  yon  self-important  theo- 
logian, whose  opinions  are  as  numberless  as  the 
leaves  of  this  tree,  but  altogether  destitute,  how- 
ever, of  that  sap  of  life  which  makes  them  green 
and  useful ;  and  venture  a  word  upon  the  value  of 
this  leafy  greatness — ah !  down  you  go,  a  rotten 
branch ;  the  fire  must  have  you.  Ye  sons  of  power 
and  peace,  who  would  not  rather  talk  to  a  tree 
than  a  man  ?  Why,  Nature,  thy  brambles  are  not 
so  cruel  as  some  saints ;  thou  hast  no  thorns  to 
pierce  as  do  their  words,  even  when  our  violent 
hands  do  most  rudely  grasp  thee.  We  may  safely 
wander  in  the  fields,  then.  Yes,  and  Jesus  will 
accompany  us ;  and,  walking  with  Him,  they  will 
yield  us  more  than  logic  ever  did,  or  human  art,  or 
seats  of  learning,  so  called ;  the  flowers  will  teach 
us  more  than  some  men,  while  Christ  bids  them 
preach  to  us  the  life  of  simple  faith  in  God. 
The  corn-fields,  too,  must  yield  us  more  than  tem- 
poral bread,  for,  said  Christ,  "  So  is  the  kingdom 
of  God,  as  if  a  man  should  cast  seed  into  the 
ground ;  and  should  sleep,  and  rise  night  and  day, 
and  the  seed  should  spring  and  grow  up,  he  know- 
eth  not  how.  For  the  earth  bringeth  forth  fruit 
of  herself ;  first  the  blade,  then  the  ear,  after  that 
the  full  corn  in  the  ear."  Without  going  very 
minutely  into  the  meaning  of  our  Saviour's  lan- 
guage, or  the  specific  object  He  had  in  view  in 


JESUS   AND   THE    GROWING   CORN.  125 

uttering  it,  we  shall  make  use  of  the  figure  it  pre- 
sents to  us  to  illustrate  the  work  of  divine  grace 
in  the  heart  in  its  commencement,  progress,  and 
maturity. 

The  green  blade. — How  beautiful  it  appears  in 
the  midst  of  the  melting  snow,  and  after  the 
winter's  storms  are  hushed  into  quiet  and  repose ! 
And  how  beautiful  does  the  green  blade  of  godly 
fear  appear  as  it  springs  forth  in  the  life  of  one 
whose  whole  life  has  been  one  continued  storm  of 
reckless  pride  and  passion ! 

How  beautiful  does  the  green  blade  appear  in 
the  midst  of  the  putrefaction  which  frequently 
surrounds  it !  And  how  attractive  is  true  religion 
as  it  springs  forth  and  developes  itself  in  the  life 
and  conduct  of  the  young,  who,  notwithstanding 
that  they  are  surrounded  by  all  the  blandishments 
of  sense  and  the  corruptions  of  a  vile  and  apostate 
world,  still  grow  up  in  conformity  to  Christ !  How 
lovely  to  see  such  maintaining  their  integrity, 
keeping  their  garments  white  and  unspotted  from 
the  world,  and  shedding  on  all  around  the  purifying 
and  elevating  influence  of  their  holy  life ! 

How  beautiful  does  the  green  blade  appear  in 
the  midst  of  decay  and  death !  And  oh,  how  plea- 
sant to  see  the  green  blade  of  faith  springing  forth 
in  the  prayers,  tears,  and  godly  sorrow  of  the 
aged,  even  in  the  midst  of  death ! — to  mark  these 
wanderers  even  at  the  eleventh  hour  come  back  to 
that  God  and  Saviour  so  long  forgotten  and  de- 
ll* 


126  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

spised.  Oh,  we  say,  thanks  to  God  that  in  the 
midst  of  the  winter  of  death  the  green  blade  of 
hope  lifts  up  its  head  to  chase  away  the  dark  cloud 
of  despair! 

How  silently  does  the  green  blade  come  forth 
from  the  bosom  of  the  earth — were  you  to  place 
your  ear  close  to  the  virgin  soil,  it  would  bring  you 
no  intelligence  of  the  life  springing  up.  And  with 
what  noiseless  steps  does  divine  mercy  come  to  the 
sinner's  heart  to  make  way  for  the  sinner's  Friend; 
how  gently  does  the  hand  of  love  remove  our 
chains  ofttimes ;  how  softly  does  the  dew  of  hea- 
ven steal  into  the  heart  to  cause  the  seed  of  truth 
to  germinate  and  grow. 

How  gradually  does  the  green  blade  show  itself: 
though  the  eye  were  fixed  upon  the  earth  both 
night  and  day,  the  exact  moment  when  it  appeared 
could  not  be  ascertained.  And  who  can  tell  the 
precise  hour  when  the  omnipotent  finger  of  God's 
Spirit  first  touched  the  heart,  the  first  dewdrop  of 
heaven's  mercy  distilled  upon  the  spirit?  Does  this 
perplex  thee,  reader  ?  mind  not  the  moment.  Does 
the  husbandman  refuse  to  rejoice  as  he  beholds  the 
growing  corn  because  he  cannot  tell  the  time 
when  it  pierced  the  sod  ? — and  why  shouldst  thou 
distress  thyself  about  the  time  when  thou  wast 
blessed  ?  Hast  thou  the  blade  of  faith — the  plant 
of  godly  fear?  Eejoice,  the  hand  of  God  bade  it 
take  root  within  thy  heart ;  let  it  be  thy  concern  to 
have  its  leaves  kept  green  by  heavenly  influences. 


JESUS  AND  THE   GROWING  CORN.          127 

Forget  not  that  prayer  has  often  made  the  heavens 
drop  fatness  on  our  path,  and  the  everlasting  hills 
to  pour  their  fructifying  streams. 

With  what  a  mysterious  yet  invincible  power 
does  the  green  blade  force  its  way  through  the 
heavy  clods  which  cover  it,  and  hide  it  from 
riew !  So  frail  is  it  that  the  slighest  bruise 
threatens  to  beat  it  to  the  earth,  while  yet  so  om- 
nipotent is  it  that  it  will  spring  forth  to  the  light, 
however  great  the  weight  which  may  be  cast  upon 
it — and  how  strikingly  this  energy  of  vegetable 
life  illustrates  that  life  which  is  divine.  The 
plants  of  righteousness,  though  they  may  be  hea- 
vily weighed  by  a  body  of  sin  and  death — by 
manifold  sorrows,  temptations,  and  fears — will 
nevertheless  grow  upwards  towards  the  great 
Source  of  eternal  day.  Satan  maj7  place  the  heavy 
foot  of  persecution  upon  the  growing  kingdom  of 
Christ,  but  he  cannot  press  out  its  life,  for  its  roots 
are  divine ;  he  may  endeavour  to  put  his  finger 
upon  the  rising  sap  in  the  true  vine  that  so  the 
branches  may  not  appear,  but  he  cannot — he  may 
cut  them  off,  but  they  bud  forth  again.  The  life 
which  Christ  imparts  to  the  soul  will  rise  and  rise 
until,  overflowing  the  bounds  of  sinful  fear  and 
the  conventionalisms  of  the  world,  it  bursts  into 
the  life  bearing  down  all  opposition,  and  compel- 
ling even  the  ungodly  to  admit  that  Christ  has 
gained  another  friend.  Eeader  dost  thou  enter- 
tain the  hope  that  thou  hast  received  life  from 


128  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

Christ?  Take  heed,  examine;  life  will  manifest 
itself.  Wouldst  thou  prevent  this ;  and,  listening 
to  thy  own  timid  heart  and  the  suggestions  of 
Satan,  hast  thou  sought  to  hide  the  expressions  of 
life  beneath  the  cold,  damp  soil  of  worldly  policy  ? 
0  foolish  sexton !  thus  to  bury  thy  hope.  What 
evidence  hast  thou  that  thou  hast  life  at  all? 
Hast  thou  not  read  that  there  is  first  the  blade  ? 
it  must  come  forth — it  will  declare  itself.  Art 
thou  not  afraid?  Hast  thou  pondered  the  words 
of  Christ,  "  Whosoever,  therefore,  shall  be  ashamed 
of  Me,  and  of  My  words,  in  this  adulterous  and 
sinful  generation,  of  him  also  shall  the  Son  of  man 
be  ashamed,  when  He  cometh  in  the  glory  of  His 
Father  with  the  holy  angels?"  Awake,  arouse 
thyself,  and  let  thy  love  display  itself  in  keeping 
the  commandments  of  Christ. 

The  green  blade. — How  it  flourishes  apparently 
without  human  care,  for  "  so  is  the  kingdom  of 
God,"  said  Christ,  "  as  if  a  man  should  cast  seed 
in  the  ground ;  and  should  sleep,  and  rise  night 
and  day,  and  the  seed  should  spring  and  grow  up, 
he  knoweth  not  how."  And  how  wise  and  bene- 
ficent are  these  arrangements.  How  small  would 
be  the  quantity  of  bread  we  should  have  did  it 
depend  entirely  upon  the  husbandman's  care ;  but 
having  taken  a  certain  course  with  his  seed,  he 
eats,  drinks,  and  sleeps,  and  waits  the  issue ;  and 
God  Himself,  too  frequently  unsolicited,  and  with- 
out receiving  even  the  pepper-corn-rent  of  grati- 


JESUS  AND   THE   GROWING   CORN.          129 

tude  or  praise,  watches  over  the  buried  grain,  and 
brings  it  to  a  joyful  maturity  in  the  full  harvest- 
home.  So  frequently  does  the  servant  of  Jesus 
go  forth  and  scatter  with  no  sparing  hand  the  pre- 
cious seed  of  truth;  sometimes  he  too  fails  to 
water  it  as  he  should  with  his  prayers  and  tears. 
The  seed  and  the  place  where  scattered  are  for- 
gotten ;  and  frequently,  even  when  the  green 
blade  is  seen,  it  is  overlooked.  But  not  so  with 
God ;  He  marked  each  golden  grain  of  truth,  and 
the  heart  opened  by  Himself  to  receive  it  was  well 
known  to  Him ;  and  without  even  the  thought, 
care,  or  prayers  of  His  servant,  in  many  instances 
the  work  is  brought  to  perfection.  The  salvation 
of  the  people  He  loves,  redeemed  by  the  precious 
blood  of  His  Son,  and  destined  to  be  His  crown 
of  rejoicing,  is  far  too  important  to  hang  upon  the 
faithfulness  or  prayers  of  even  His  most  devoted 
servants ;  and  who  is  there,  however  he  may  have 
laboured,  watched,  and  prayed,  who  does  not  re- 
joice that  it  is  so,  and  who  will  not  with  tears  of 
gratitude,  confess  that  while  he  has  been  all  but 
comparatively  careless,  and  has  all  but  slept,  God 
has  carried  on  His  own  work,  and  saved  many 
through  efforts  which  we  could  not  have  dared  to 
have  thought  worthy  of  His  recognition,  on  ac- 
count of  the  spirit  in  which  they  were  made  ? 
But  thus  it  is  that  God  humbles  His  servants, 
while  by  His  most  gratuitous  blessings  He  shows 
them  what  they  are,  and  while  thus  extorting 


130  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

praise  from  their  lips,  demonstrates  to  their  hearts 
that  the  salvation  of  those  over  whom  they  rejoice 
is  "not  of  him  that  willeth,  nor  of  him  that  run- 
neth, but  of  God  that  showeth  mercy."  And 
because  God  is  thus  faithful  to  His  work,  and 
watches  over  it  with  an  unslumbering  care,  how 
frequently  are  His  children  found  in  most  unlikely 
places,  and  growing  and  thriving  under  the  most 
unpropitious  circumstances.  The  Church  ex- 
claims as  of  old,  "  Where  have  these  been  ?"  The 
secret  is  this  ;  that  He  who  watches  over  the  little 
flower  as  it  bends  its  head  in  the  valley,  crowning 
its  head,  morning  by  morning,  with  a  coronal  of 
dewdrops,  watches  over  His  people,  and  fre- 
quently, without  any  human  instrumentality,  per- 
fects His  love  in  their  hearts,  and  brings  them  to 
Zion :  and  why  should  those  who  have  been  thus 
dealt  with  distress  themselves  because  they  cannot 
tell  how  the  work  was  accomplished,  Be  it  suffi- 
cient for  thee  to  know,  dear  reader,  that  if  thou 
hast  found  thy  way  to  the  feet  of  Jesus,  the  gentle 
hand  of  God's  Spirit  has  conducted  thee, — that  if 
thine  eyes  are  opened  to  the  beauties  of  holiness, 
the  same  hand  has  opened  them.  Leave  the 
method  with  God,  rejoice  over  the  result,  remem- 
bering who  has  said,  "  For  so  is  the  kingdom  of 
God,  as  if  a  man  should  cast  seed  into  the  ground ; 
and  should  sleep,  and  rise  night  and  day,  and  the 
seed  should  spring  arid  grow  up,  he  knoweth  not 
how."' 


JESUS   AND   THE   GROWING   CORN.  131 

And  after  the  blade  comes  the  ear  pregnant 
with  hope.  On  the  first  appearance  of  the  blade, 
its  true  character  might  have  been  doubted  by 
the  uneducated  eye  ;  but  now  the  rounded  bulbs 
at  once  declare  its  worth  to  man,  and  wherever 
the  green  blade  of  earnest  prayer  shows  itself 
with  sorrow  for  sin,  there,  sooner  or  later,  the 
other  Christian  graces  will  come  forth ;  the  know- 
lege  imparted  will  become  clearer,  the  character 
will  become  consolidated,  and  the  young  man  in 
Christ  will  appear  strong  to  bear  and  do  the  will 
of  God. 

Then  comes  the  full  corn  in  the  ear,  and  this, 
matured  and  ripened,  meekly  bending  its  head 
with  the  weight  of  its  own  glory,  stands  before 
us,  a  beautiful  symbol  of  the  aged  saint,  who, 
with  his  graces  mellowed  and  matured,  awaits 
the  hand  of  love  to  gather  him  into  the  garner 
above. 

Corn,  however,  to  be  seen  to  perfection,  must 
be  viewed  as  ripened  beneath  the  light  of  the 
sun ;  and  of  the  saint  it  may  be  said,  that  while 
in  every  stage  of  the  divine  life  his  character 
appears  lovely,  this  is  pre-eminently  the  case  as 
it  is  matured  and  fitted  for  the  mansions  above. 
Still,  after  all,  it  must  be  affirmed  that  the  grow- 
ing corn  of  which  Jesus  speaks  will  never  be  seen 
in  all  its  perfection  and  beauty,  until  it  is  beheld 
waving  upon  the  everlasting  hills,  and  beneath 
the  light  of  that  sun  which  shall  never  set. 


132  LESSONS  FKOM  JESUS. 

May  we  be  numbered  among  those  whose  cha- 
racter divine  grace  will  thus  perfect  here,  and 
crown  with  felicity  hereafter. 

"  Sow  in  the  morn  thy  seed, 

At  eve  hold  not  thy  hand ; 
To  doubt  and  fear  give  thou  no  heed, 
Broadcast  it  round  the  land. 

Beside  all  waters  sow, 

The  highway  furrows  stock : 
Drop  it  where  thorns  and  thistles  grow ; 

Scatter  it  on  the  rock. 

The  good,  the  fruitful  ground 

Expect  not  here  nor  there ;' 
Air,  hill,  and  dale,  by  plots  'tis  found ; 

Gro  forth,  then,  everywhere. 

Thou  know'st  not  which  may  thrive, 

The  late  or  early  sown ; 
Grace  keeps  the  precious  germ  alive, 

When  and  wherever  shown. 

And  duly  shall  appear, 

In  verdure  beauty,  strength, 
The  tender  blade,  the  stalk,  the  ear, 

And  one  full  corn  at  length. 

Thou  canst  not  toil  in  vain  ; 

Cold,  heat,  and  moist,  and  dry, 
Shall  foster  and  mature  the  grain 

For  garners  in  the  sky." 

MONTGOMERY. 


"  Despise  not  thou  a  small  thing,  either  for  evil  or  good ; 
For  a  look  may  work  thy  ruin,  or  a  word  create  thy  wealth. 
That  which  vexeth  thee  now,  provoking  thee  to  hate  thy 

brother, 
Bear  with  it ;  the  annoyance  passeth,  and  may  not  return  for 

ever. 
A  little  explained — a  little  endured — a  little  passed  over  as  a 

foible, 
And  lo !  the  jagged  atoms  fit  like  smooth  mosaic." 

PROVERBIAL  PHILOSOPHY. 

"  He  that  never  changed  any  of  his  opinions,  never  corrected 
any  of  his  mistakes ;  and  he  who  was  never  wise  enough  to  find 
out  any  mistakes  in  himself,  will  not  be  charitable  enough  to 
excuse  what  he  reckons  mistakes  in  others." — DR.  WHICHCOTE. 

"  Advice,  like  snow,  the  softer  it  falls,  the  longer  it  dwells 
upon,  and  the  deeper  it  sinks  into  the  mind." — COLERIDGE. 

"  Trust  him  little  who  praises  all,  him  less  who  censures  all, 
and  him  least  who  is  indifferent  about  all." — LAVATER. 


lin&  Itete; 


OB, 

A  LESSON  FOR  THE    ANGRY. 


"  Speaking  the  truth  in  love." — Eph.  iv.  15. 

LOVE  is  said  to  be  an  omnipotent  law,  and  kind- 
ness is  certainly  the  child  of  love,  and  partakes 
of  the  strength  of  its  parent.  The  injury  done  by 
harsh  words  can  never  be  properly  estimated,  the 
holy  victories  gained  by  kind  words  can  never  be 
properly  numbered.  Harsh  words  have  stumbled 
many  a  weary  traveller,  and  broken  many  a  down- 
cast one ;  they  carry  anger  to  the  soul,  prejudice 
to  the  mind,  remorse  to  the  conscience,  despair  to 
the  heart,  vicious  decisions  to  the  will,  and  the 
blindness  of  passion  and  fury  of  destruction  to  the 
entire  man.  Harsh  words  are  the  arrows  of  anger, 
and  the  vehicles  of  death ;  the  weapons  of  hell,  and 
ebullitions  of  superficial  and  unreflective  men; 
they  are  the  scum  of  malicious  and  vindictive 


136  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

minds;  mark  their  path,  like  the  lightning,  by 
destruction  ;  goad  men  to  forbidden  paths,  and  are 
provocative  of  all  kinds  of  evil ;  hence,  uan  angry 
man  stirreth  up  strife,  and  a  furious  man  aboundeth 
in  transgression." 

Kind  words  are  winged  messengers  of  mercy  ; 
the  balm  of  the  weary  spirit,  and  incentives  to  holy 
deeds ;  they  pass  through  the  waste  places  of  man's 
soul,  like  living  waters,  ever  carrying  with  them 
both  fruitfulness  and  joy.  They  are  the  servants 
of  divine  love,  who  go  out  into  the  highway's  and 
byways  of  life  to  fetch  home  poor  wanderers  to 
partake  of  the  feast  of  fat  things  which  mercy 
has  provided.  Kind  words  are  full  of  strength  to 
the  weak  in  the  battle  of  life,  and  of  hope  to  the 
hopeless  on  the  borders  of  despair.  It  is  by  kind 
words  that  the  Great  Teacher  carries  light  to  the 
dark,  joy  to  the  sad,  healing  to  the  wounded, 
courage  to  the  timid,  decision  to  the  wavering,  and 
puts  weapons  into  the  hands  of  His  disciples,  by 
which  they  are  enabled  to  conquer  both  themselves 
and  the  world.  Kind  words  have  done  more  to 
elevate  men  than  science  or  art,  and  to  preserve 
them  from  sin  than  prisons  or  gibbets.  Kind 
words  are  the  storehouses  of  thought,  the  honey- 
comb of  wisdom,  the  offspring  of  self-knowledge, 
the  companion  of  the  chastened  and  subdued ;  the 
wealth,  power,  and  beauty  of  the  poor  in  spirit; 
the  language  of  heaven's  own  children,  who,  hav- 
ing received  mercy,  have  learnt  to  be  merciful. 


KIND   WORDS.  137 

Kind  words,  in  the  hand  of  God's  Spirit,  form, 
indeed,  the  bread-seed  of  heaven's  harvest ;  and, 
while  they  impart  grace  to  the  lips  that  utter 
them,  should  especially  date  their  birth  and  pa- 
rentage from  those  of  the  Christian.  Let  all, 
therefore,  who  profess  to  be  such,  and  especially 
those  who  frequently  find  it  difficult  to  give 
utterance  to  words  of  love,  reflect  upon  what 
they  once  were,  and  would  have  continued  to  be, 
but  for  the  kindness  of  their  great  Friend.  Let 
them  think  of  their  past  conduct,  their  number- 
less sins,  and  forgetfulness  of  God ;  the  base  in- 
gratitude, pride,  prejudice,  ignorance,  and  per- 
verseness  their  Saviour  has  frequently  witnessed 
in  them  ;  how  often  even  now  they  forsake  their 
own  mercy,  turn  aside  from  the  paths  of  wisdom, 
and  grieve  the  Saviour  whom  they  profess  to  love. 
Above  all,  let  the  disciple  of  Christ  ever  remember 
the  unmerited  kindness  of  his  Lord ;  how  He  met 
him  in  love,  and  taught  him  in  mercy ;  how  He 
bore  with  his  ignorance,  and  bound  up  his  wounds; 
how,  through  ^words  of  kindness,  he  removed  his 
prejudice,  softened  his  heart,  enlightened  his  con- 
science, loosened  his  bonds,  and  conducted  his 
.mind  to  peace  and  rest.  Thus  musing  upon  the 
love  of  Him  whose  lips  drop  as  the  honeycomb, 
whose  words  are  as  a  springing  well  and  a  flowing 
brook,  the  sincere  Christian  will  seek  for  grace  to 
imitate  his  Lord,  and  pray  that  the  law  of  kind- 
ness may  so  rule  his  lips  that  he  may  be  a  child 
12* 


138  LESSONS  FKOM  ,JESUS. 

of  mercy  in  the  midst  of  a  merciless  but  sinful 
and  erring  world. 

Speak  kindly  to  the  broken  heart, 

Wrath  ne'er  the  will  can  bend ; 
And  gentle  words  have  ever  proved 

To  virtue's  cause  a  friend. 

The  heavy  rain  that  loudly  falls, 

Makes  Nature  droop  her  head ; 
The  gentle  dew  bids  her  look  up, 

And  smile  as  from  the  dead. 

A  skilful  hand  he  needs  must  have, 

Who  plays  a  broken  harp ; 
And  Jesus'  love  must  rule  the  words 

Which  heal  the  stricken  heart. 

Because  our  griefs  so  righteous  come, 

And  pain  the  heart  must  feel, 
Should  Christians'  lips  our  wounds  inflame, 

And  say  they  .ne'er  shall  heal? 

Some  things  our  want  of  skill  make  hard, 

And  all  our  patience  prove ; 
But  hard  to  Christians  should  it  be, 

To  speak  the  truth  in  love  ? 

Helpless,  though  strong,  is  man  at  best, 

Oft  wrecked  on  misery's  shore  ; 
One  unkind  word  his  hope  may  quench, 

And  he  is  seen  no  more. 

Oh,  who  that  knows  himself,  and  mourns 

His  feet  oft  turned  aside ; 
Who  would  not  pray,  if  he  must  speak, 

In  gentlest  terms  to  chide  ? 


KIND   WORDS.  139 

Oh,  who  that  knows  a  Saviour's  love, 

And  joy  of  sin  forgiven ; 
Who  would  not  seek  by  words  of  love, 

To  guide  a  soul  to  heaven  ? 

Speak  kindly  to  the  ear  of  man, 

He  will  not  turn  away ; 
And  thou,  some  wanderer  yet  mayst  lead 

To  realms  of  endless  day ! 


"  There  are  who  mourn  for  dear  ones  reft  and  riven 

From  out  the  inmost  shrine  of  loving  hearts ; 
Now  shining  far  perchance  like  stars  of  heaven, 

But  yet  the  tie,  though  parted,  ever  parts ; 
There^are  who  sorrows  weep  more  drear  than  this: 
Oh,  hush,  that  depth  unknown,  unsounded  is." 

REV.  E.  H.  BlCKERSTETH. 

"  Lay  thy  hand  upon  thy  mouth,  brother, 

Lay  thy  hand  upon  thy  mouth ; 
One  word  thou  hast  spoken ;  but  another 

Were  perhaps  too  much  for  truth. 
Home  is  left — oh !  yes,  if  leaving 

Be  when  home  is  in  the  heart : 
Grieving — yes,  'tis  grief,  if  grieving 

Be  for  those  who  cannot  part. 
We  are  one,  brother,  we  are  one. 
Since  first  the  golden  cloud  was  spun : 
It  may  lengthen,  but  it  cannot  sever, 
For,  brother,  it  is  twined— and  twined  for  ever." 

Ibid. 


OK, 

CONSOLATION    FOR    THE    PARTED. 


"  And  they  all  wept  sore,  fell  on  PauTs  neck,  and  kissed 
Mm."— Acts  xx.  37. 

IT  appears  needful  that  the  heart  of  man  should 
be  well  furrowed  by  sorrow,  in  order  that  the 
precious  seeds  of  truth  may  take  deep  root  within, 
and  bear  fruit  to  the  praise  of  his  great  Creator. 
It  is  a  cheering  thought,  however,  that  the  April 
days  of  our  grief,  when  sanctified,  do  but  prepare 
us  for  a  spring-time  of  joy,  and  a  ripe  autumn  of 
spiritual  fruitfulness  and  beauty.  Arising  out 
of  the  nature  of  things,  therefore,  it  is  impossible 
for  those  who  despise  the  rod  of  affliction  ever  to 
be  wise,  or  for  those  who  simply  weep  without 
God,  to  be  possessed  of  that  holy  and  sublime 
hope  which  is  the  especial  heritage  of  those  who 
are  chastened  and  subdued  by  Divine  mercy. 


142  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

Among  the  many  things  which  sadden  the  heart 
and  fill  the  eyes  with  tears,  is  that  of  separation 
from  those  made  dear  to  us  by  the  ties  of  natural 
and  spiritual  love.      The  inspired  evangelist,  in 
describing  the  departure  of  the  Apostle  Paul  from 
the  brethren  at  Miletus,  presents  us  with  an  inter- 
esting and  deeply  affecting  illustration  of  this. 
It  is  not  our  intention,  however,  to  dwell  upon 
this  incident  in  the  life  of  this  great  man,  but  just 
briefly  to  state  some  few  things  which  may  tend 
to  console  the  Christian  under  such  circumstances. 
Let  him,  then,  consider  that  those  from  whom  he 
is  parted  belong  to  God,  that  they  are  His  especial 
property,  and  that,  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  His 
Son  and  sanctified  by  His  Spirit,  He  has  a  greater 
interest  in  their  well-being  and  all  that  concerns 
them,  than  any  one  else,  however  near  and  dear 
to  them;  and  has  a  right,  therefore,  to  fix  the 
bounds  of   their  habitation,    and  to   determine 
whether  they  shall  dwell  upon  the  land  or  the 
sea,  in  the  solitary  and  uncultivated  wilderness,  or 
the  crowded  city.     Whatever,  therefore,  our  feel- 
ings may  be,  it  is  our  duty  to  bow  to  the  will 
of  God,  and  cheerfully  to  acknowledge  that  He 
has  a  right  to  do  with  His  own  as  it  may  please 
Him. 

It  behoves  us,  therefore,  to  remember,  that 
whatever  we  may  be  called  upon  to  suffer  from 
the  absence  of  those  whom  we  love,  it  is  the 
mercy  and  privilege  of  each  child  of  faith,  to  have 


THE  WEEPING  DISCIPLES.  143 

his  path,  place,  and  portion  below  assigned  him 
by  his  Father's  hand.  It  must  be  wrong,  there- 
fore, to  sorrow  over  those  from  whom  we  are 
parted  in  the  faith,  as  though  the  hand  of  an 
enemy  had  torn  us  asunder,  or  invincible  neces- 
sity or  blind  chance  had  effected  our  separation. 
When  called  upon,  therefore,  to  part  from  those 
dear  to  us  in  the  Lord,  let  us  not  view  their  law- 
ful avocations,  simply  as  calling  them  from  us, 
but  let  us  recognise  the  hand  of  their  God  and 
Father  upon  them,  just  selecting  them,  and  guid- 
ing them  to  the  place  and  the  work  he  means 
them  to  accomplish.  Beholding  thus  the  love 
which  severs,  it  will  mitigate  our  sorrow,  and  we 
shall  not  dare  to  oppose  its  decision.  Nor  should 
we  forget  that  the  absence  of  an  endeared  friend 
may  be  sanctified  to  the  bringing  our  hearts 
nearer  to  One  who  is  present  at  all  times,  and 
who  by  every  trial  He  appoints  us,  perpetually 
exclaims,.  "  My  son,  give  me  thy  heart." 

The  believer,  too,  should  consider  that  as  his 
Christian  relatives  and  friends  belong  to  God, 
they  have  an  especial  interest  in  His  love  and 
care ;  that  He  has  promised  to  be  a  wall  of  fire 
round  about  them,  and  the  glory  in  their  midst ; 
that  Jesus  Himself  will  be  a  sanctuary  to  all  who 
love  Him,  and  that  it  is  declared  that  nothing 
shall  harm  those  who  are  "followers  of  that  which 
is  good."  Upon  the  words  of  a  covenant-keeping 
God  the  Christian  may  therefore  rely  in  peace, 


144  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

when  called  upon  to  surrender  those  whom  he 
loves  to  a  perilous  path  or  a  strange  country. 

The  Christian  should  also  bear  in  mii*d,  that 
his  friends  are  witnesses  for  God,  lights  enkindled 
by  His  love  to  dispel  the  darkness  of  men ;  that 
wherever  they  go  their  example  may  elevate 
their  fellows,  and  the  seed  of  truth  which  they 
scatter  yield  a  rich  fruitage  to  the  glory  of  their 
Lord.  To  accomplish  these  designs  of  Divine 
mercy,  many  must  constantly  sail  upon  the 
mighty  deep  and  others  wander  in  distant  lands. 
Christian  hearts  may  weep  over  the  inexorable 
influence  of  the  bread  which  perisheth,  while  yet 
the  purposes  of  God's  love  are  accomplished  by 
His  all  but  homeless  children,  who  are  compelled, 
as  it  is  sometimes  said,  to  travel  hither  and 
thither,  in  obedience  to  the  call  of  a  secular  avo- 
cation. But  oh,  Christian!  reflect  that  the  one 
over  whose  wanderings  thou  dost  mourn  so  fre- 
quently, whose  absence  thou  dost  deplore,  is  an 
apostle  of  God's  love,  and  it  may  be  the  will 
of  thy  Father  that  he  should  be  frequently 
taken  from  thee,  to  exhibit  the  truth  in  the 
midst  of  thick  darkness,  and  to  bring  many 
wanderers  to  the  feet  of  his  Lord.  Should  not 
this  mitigate  thy  sorrow,  and  constrain  thee  to 
pray  tjiat  each  step  taken  from  thee,  by  those 
thou  dost  love,  may  be  but  a  step  towards  some 
poor  benighted  heart,  destined  to  be  the  temple 
of  truth  and  the  throne  of  Jesus. 


THE   WEEPING   DISCIPLES.  145 

There  is  the  mercy -seat  too,  Christian,  to  which 
thou  canst  perpetually  go  and  commune  with  thine 
absent  one.  Neither  wind  nor  wave,  storm  nor 
tempest,  nearness  nor  distance,  can  affect  this: 
here  thou  wilt  ever  find  One  who  can  help  and 
sympathise  with  thee,  and  whose  love,  stronger 
than  death,  still  binds  thy  heart  to  thy  absent 
friend,  with  a  cord  no  change  can  break,  and 
whose  spirit  enkindles  in  thy  heart  the  immortal 
hope,  that  when  death  shall  remove  thy  frail 
tabernacle,  thou  wilt  meet  with  the  endeared  ob- 
ject of  thy  Christian  love  in  that  holy  world  where 
sorrow  and  parting  are  unknown. 

"  Now  we  must  leave  our  fatherland, 

And  wander  far  o'er  ocean's  foam ; 
Broken  is  kinship's  dearest  band, 

Forsaken  stands  our  ancient  home ; 
But  One  will  ever  with  us  go 

Through  busiest  day  and  stillest  night ; 
The  heavens  above,  the  deeps  below, 

Shrink  back  abashed  before  His  sight. 

Then  be  the  issue  life  or  death ; 

Let  Him  do  as  it  seems  Him  best. 
The  messenger  of  Christian  faith 

Looks  not  in  this  world  for  his  rest. 
If  but  His  hand  still  hold  us  fast, 

His  presence  hourly  fold  us  round, 
The  anchor  of  our  souls  is  cast 

Firm  in  the  one  eternal  ground. 

The  voice  of  everlasting  love 
That  rang  with  living  power  through  us, 

13 


146  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

Is  worthy  thus  our  souls  to  move, 

Worthy  to  fill  a  lifetime  thus ; 
Here  none  was  e'er  deceived  or  lost, 

Howe'er  his  earthly  hopes  might  fade ; 
Then  well  for  him  who  weighs  the  cost 

Ere  yet  his  final  choice  is  made. 

Yes,  scattered  are  our  brothers  now 

O'er  land  and  ocean  far  apart, 
Yet  to  one  Master  still  they  bow, 

In  Him  they  still  are  one  in  heart ; 
For  as  one  sin,  one  poison  ran 

Through  all  our  race  since  Adam's  fall ;  % 
There  is  one  hope,  one  life  for  man 

In  Him  who  bore  the  sins  of  all. 

Sweet  for  each  other  oft  to  plead, 

And  feel  our  oneness  in  the  Son  ; 
And  then  we  daily  meet  indeed 

In  spirit  at  our  Father's  throne ! 
Our  bodies  are  but  parted  here, 

And  fade  in  this  dark  land  away. 
The  earthly  shadows  disappear, 

The  harvest  ripens  for  that  day. 

Soon  Time  for  us  shall  cease  to  reign, 

The  Saviour  calls  us  home  in  peace; 
At  last  we  all  shall  meet  again, 

And  dwell  together  all  in  bliss, 
Where  faith  to'clearest  vision  yields, — 

Triumphant  light  for  sorrowing  gloom, 
For  desert  wastes  fair  Eden's  fields, 

For  tearful  paths  a  blessed  home !" 

ALBERT  KNAPP, 
Lyra  Germanica. 


"  Exhaustless  Treasure  !   Being  limitless ! 
What  gaze  has  ever  pierced  Thy  deep  abyss  ? 
Deep  Fount  of  life !     Light  inaccessible ! 
How  great  Thy  power,  0  God,  what  tongue  can  tell  ? 

Thy  Christendom  is  singing  night  and  day, 

'  Glory  to  Him,  the  mighty  God,  for  aye, 

By  Whom,  through  Whom,  in  Whom,  all  beings  are !' 

Grant  us  to  echo  on  this  song  afar." 

J.  FRANK. 

"  But  how  the  fallen  creature  man  needs  the  interior  light  of 
God  to  strengthen  his  soul,  and  the  promises  of  God  to  sustain 
his  hope,  in  every  step  of  his  pilgrimage." 

M.  A.  SCHIMMELPENNINCK. 

"  Who  has  not  seen  the  sun  on  a  fine  spring  morning  pouring 
his  rays  through  a  transparent  white  cloud,  filling  all  places  with 
the  purity  of  his  presence,  and  kindling  the  woods  into  joy  and 
song.  Such,  I  conceive,  would  be  the  constant  effects  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  on  the  soul,  were  there  no  evil  in  the  world.  As  it 
is,  the  moral  sun,  like  the  natural,  though  it  always  makes  a  da}r, 
is  often  clouded  over." — Guesses  at  Truth. 

If  all  our  definitions  were  drawn  through  our  hearts  and 
steeped  in  the  blood  of  our  own  spiritual  life,  we  should  be  saved 
from  many  mistakes ;  the  hearts  of  the  people  would  be  more 
deeply  affected,  and  God's  Spirit  more  abundantly  honoured. 


jt  f  oto  of  ijt  Spirit; 


THE  CHURCHES'   GREAT  NEED. 


"  2%e  ?ove  o/  ^e  Spirit"— Rom.  xv.  30. 

THE  vast  temple  of  the  universe  is  but  the  whis- 
pering gallery  of  God's  Spirit,  but  the  framework 
to  the  costly  embroidery  of  His  love.  There  is  no 
spot  below  where  His  voice  cannot  be  heard :  no 
place  where  the  finished  creations  of  His  presence 
and  love  cannot  be  seen.  Men,  however,  for  the 
most  part,  admire  the  work,  but  will  not  see  the 
hand  by  which  it  is  accomplished ;  and  hear  the 
voice,  but  pay  no  regard  to  the  LOVE  of  which  it 
is  the  echo.  We  purpose  noticing  some  few  things 
through  which  the  love  of  God's  Spirit  displays 
itself. 

THE  COVENANT. — This  word  has  become  almost 
obsolete  in  modern  theologv.     To  our  fathers  it 

Ot/ 

meant  a  good  deal,  to  us  it  means  little  or  nothing. 
13* 


150  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

"  This  cup  is  the  New  Testament  in  my  blood," 
said  the  Saviour.  "  The  New  Testament,  sealed  and 
ratified  by  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  is  but  a 
verbal  amplification  of  the  covenant  of  grace.  But 
this  book  mentioned  by  our  Saviour,  with  all  its 
provisions  and  determinations,  its  doctrines  and 
precepts,  must  have  been  in  the  heart  of  God  before 
it  was  drawn  out  before  us  through  the  medium  of 
so  many  characters  and  words.  The  covenant  of 
grace  must  have  been  in  the  infinite  mind  of  the 
Trinity  in  Unity  before  it  was  told  out  to  us 
through  our  finite  language ;  and  hence  this  cove- 
nant must  be  very  ancient — yea,  co-existent  with 
the  very  being  of  God  Himself; — and  long  before 
the  love  of  God's  Spirit  imprinted  itself  upon  this 
visible  universe,  it  was  displayed  in  connection 
with  that  covenant  which  had  for  its  object  the 
salvation  of  the  countless  host  of  God's  elect.  In 
answer  to  the  requirements  or  determinations  of 
that  covenant,  God's  Spirit  agreed  to  become  the 
Quickener  and  sanctifier  of  all  those  embraced  by 
it ;  to  bring  them  to  a  knowledge  of  the  Saviour ; 
in  a  word,  to  bring  together  and  place  upon  the 
one  foundation  Christ  Jesus,  all  the  living  stones 
of  that  wondrous  temple  of  mercy  of  which  Christ 
is  to  be  the  light  and  beauty  for  ever  and  ever." 
"For  I  have  said,  mercy  shall  be  built  up  for 
ever ;  thy  faithfulness  shalt  thou  establish  in  the 
very  heavens."  When  we  reflect  upon  the  cha- 
racter of  those  who  compose  this  edifice  of  mercy, 


THE   LOVE   OF   THE   SPIRIT.  151 

how  wonderful  the  love  of  God's  Spirit,  that 
He  should  deign  to  teach  and  work  with  such 
materials. 

CREATION. — "  By  the  breath  or  Spirit  of  the 
Lord,  the  heavens  were  made,  and  all  the  host  of 
them  by  the  breath  of  His  mouth.7'  He  made 
the  sun  and  the  moon,  and  spangled  the  heavens 
with  stars ;  and  though  the  constellations  which 
shine  so  brightly  above  us  may  appear  confused, 
it  is  only  in  appearance.  Order  reigns  supreme ; 
and  every  point  of  light  which  meets  the  eye 
streaming  forth  from  the  vast  abysses  of  space,  is 
but  a  shining  letter  in  the  name  of  Jehovah  writ- 
ten by  the  omnipotent  finger  of  God's  Spirit.  The 
visible  heavens  may  be  viewed  as  the  vesture  of 
the  Almighty,  woven  in  the  loom  of  infinite  wis- 
dom and  love  by  Him  who  is  emphatically  the 
COMFORTER  of  the  church.  "  He  healeth  the 
broken  in  heart,  and  bindeth  up  their  griefs.  He 
telleth  the  number  of  the  stars ;  he  calleth  them  all 
by  their  names.  Great  is  our  Lord,  and  of  great 
power :  his  understanding  is  infinite." 

This  world  exhibits  the  love  of  God's  Spirit 
also.  He  it  was  who  originally  with  outstretched 
wings,  dove-like,  brooded  over  the  chaotic  ele- 
ments of  this  forming  world  to  impregnate  them 
with  every  form  of  life,  beauty,  and  beneficence ; 
and  so  exquisite  was  His  work,  that  His  all-em- 
bracing love  can  be  traced  in  the  beating  heart  of 
the  animalcule  as  well  as  the  giant  limbs  of  the 


152  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

elephant.  Nor  is  the  love  of  God's  Spirit  less 
apparent  in  man :  we  behold  it  in  the  frail  but 
exquisitely  formed  temple  of  his  humanity,  and 
in  the  immortal  inmate  within ;  the  earthly  but 
curiously  wrought  and  elaborated  cabinet,  with  its 
hidden  jewel,  speak  eloquently  of  His  love,  while 
the  rnind,  with  all  its  god-like  powers,  in  various 
forms,  perpetually  and  universally  repeats  the  same 
tale.  The  love  of  God's  Spirit,  then,  streams  down 
upon  us  from  the  heavens  above  us;  is  reflected 
from  every  part  of  the  vast  temple  of  the  universe 
around  us ;  and  is  pre-eminently  exhibited  by  man 
— its  great  High  Priest — the  marvellous  balance 
and  ceaseless  activity  of  whose  powers  were  in- 
tended perpetually  to  hymn  forth  its  praise.  As, 
therefore,  all  things  below  exhibit  the  love  of 
God's  Spirit,  all  are  called  upon  to  praise  Him. 
"Praise  the  Lord,"  says  the  Psalmist,  a from  the 
earth,  ye  dragons,  and  all  deeps ;  fire,  and  hail ; 
snow,  and  vapours ;  stormy  wind  fulfilling  His 
word ;  mountains,  and  all  hills ;  fruitful  trees,  and 
all  cedars ;  beasts,  and  all  cattle ;  creeping  things, 
and  flying  fowl ;  kings  of  the  earth,  and  all  people; 
princes,  and  all  judges  of  the  earth.  Both  young 
men  and  maidens ;  old  men  .and  children :  let 
them  praise  the  name  of  the  Lord :  for  His  name 
alone  is  excellent ;  His  glory  is  above  the  earth 
and  heaven." 

PROVIDENCE. — As  God's  Spirit  is  above  the 
world  of  matter,  so  He  is  also  above  the  world  of 


THE    LOVE-  OF   THE   SPIRIT.  153 

mind ;  and  His  love  is  seen  sustaining  and  direct- 
ing the  former,  ^nd  in  ruling  and  restraining  the 
latter.  God's  Spirit  is  more  than  equal  to  all  the 
designs  of  men.  Could  but  one  thought  get  from 
beneath  his  fingers,  or  slip  from  the  tongue,  or  get 
into  a  book  without  His  knowledge  or  the  control 
of  His  love,  what  a  hell  of  misery  the  world 
would  speedily  becoitie !  But  earth  and  hell  per- 
petually recognise  His  supremacy  and  control. 

KEDEMPTION. — 1.  Incarnation  of  Christ. — To 
the  Spirit  of  God  was  entrusted  the  formation  of 
the  sacred  temple  of  our  Saviour's  humanity.  Oh, 
what  a  temple  was  this !  And  not  only  so,  but 
that  immortal  spirit,  which  was  a  lucid  mirror  of 
the  moral  perfections  of  God  from  the  cradle  to 
the  tomb,  with  all  its  costly  furniture,  its  moral 
beauty  and  mental  opulence.  Talk  they  of  the  mu- 
sic of  the  soul,  what  a  hymn  of  delight,  a  strain  of 
pure,  harmonious,  ravishing  music  must  the  Spirit 
of  Jesus  perpetually  have  sent  forth  to  God !  the 
centre  of  moral  force  and  power ;  the  conscience 
never  darkened  or  crippled  by  sin ;  the  will  and 
affections  never  at  variance ;  so  perfect  and  infal- 
lible a  balance  of  all  the  powers  maintained,  that 
however  dark,  confused,  and  disturbed  the  out- 
ward life  might  be  yea,  dark  as  that  which  fell 
upon  the  land  of  Egypt  when  God  smote  their 
first-born,  there  was  ever  the  light  of  purity, 
peace,  and  full  conformity  to  God's  law  within — 
a  light  which  all  the  waves  of  tribulation  could 


154  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

not  dim,  much  less  put  out ;  but  which  burnt 
brightest  beneath  the  hidings  of  His  Father's  face, 
and  the  floods  of  indescribable  anguish  and  death 
which  closed  His  earthly  career.  That  the  Spirit 
of  God  should  thus,  for  our  sakes,  have  formed 
the  man  Christ  Jesus,  and  so  wondrously  and 
mysteriously  have  veiled  the  glories  of  His  divi- 
nity beneath  the  vesture  of*  our  perfected  huma- 
nity, that  so,  though  fallen,  we  might  have  some 
faint  idea  of  what  truly  belongs  to  us  as  made  by 
God,  and  of  what  that  God  is  to  whom  we  are 
indebted  for  our  existence,  and  by  whose  grace 
alone  we  can  be  restored  again  to  His  image  and 
love,  abundantly  declares  the  love  of  God's  Spirit. 
In  the  person  Christ,  then,  we  see  that  the  Spirit 
of  God  could  make  an  intellect  which  should 
never  err — a  will  whose  volitions  should  ever 
command  the  approbation  of  God — a  conscience 
without  self-rebuke — -a  heart  that  should  never 
embrace  sin — a  memory  which  should  never  pre- 
sent a  stain  of  personal  defilement — for  all  these 
were  found  in  Him  who  was  despised  of  men — 
the  most  perfect  human  sympathies  with  the  very 
perfections  of  God.  How  great  the  love  of  God's 
Spirit  thus  to  work  for  our  redemption! 

2.  The  Anointing  of  Christ. — Our  Saviour  was 
anointed  of  the  Spirit,  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  the 
meek. — Isa.  Ixi.  1.  And  from  the  same  Almighty 
source  "  The  tongue  of  the  learned  was  given  to 
Him,  that  he  might  know  how  to  speak  a  word  in 


THE    LOVE   OF   THE   SPIRIT.  155 

season  to  the  weary;"  and  as  the  High  Priest 
under  the  law  was  known  by  his  unction,  which 
was  not  to  be  imitated,  so  Jesus  is  known  to  the 
contrite  and  broken  in  spirit  by  the  unctious  words 
of  divine  peace  and  consolation  which  He  only 
can  speak  to  the  heart.  Oh,  what  love  of  the 
Spirit,  thus  to  anoint  Him  to  minister  to  our 
woes ! 

Of  our  Saviour,  too,  it  was  declared  that  "  He 
was  anointed  with  the  oil  of  gladness  above  His 
fellows;"  and  this  oil  of  gladness  or  joy  of  the 
Lord  was  His  strength.  It  was  the  Spirit  of  God 
who  comforted  and  supported  Him  beneath  all 
His  sorrows,  and  led  Him  forth  to  all  His  terrible 
conflicts  with  the  powers  of  darkness,  and  hence 
we  read,  u  Then  was  Jesus  led  of  the  Spirit  into 
the  "wilderness  to  be  tempted  of  the  devil;" — and 
the  same  loving  and  Almighty  friend  who  led 
Him  forth  to  this  great  conflict  with  the  powers 
of  darkness,  was  with  Him  to  sustain  and  crown 
Him  with  final  victory.  Yes,  even  the  man  Christ 
Jesus  was  clothed  in  celestial  panoply  by  God's 
Spirit,  who  put  the  sword  of  truth  into  His  hand, 
and  so  anointed  the  shield  of  His  faith,  that  all 
the  fiery  darts  of  Satan  glanced  off  and  fell  at  His 
feet. 

3.  The  Sufferings  and  Death  of  Christ. — All 
through  the  strange  and  varied  sorrows  of  His  life 
Christ  had  a  secret  and  abiding  source  of  strength 
and  joy  in  the  anointing  of  God's  Spirit ;  Urn  He 


156  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

could  not  lose  ;  alas,  for  us.  had  it  been  possible. 
The  covenant  of  grace  ensured  it  to  Him  in  His 
complex  character,  and  hence,  though  deserted  by 
His  disciples  in  the  midst  of  His  great  and  sore 
travail,  He  was  never  utterly  forsaken.  The 
Spirit  of  God,  His  companion  through  life,  was 
still  with  Him  to  cheer  and  sustain.  And  when 
the  dread  moment  came  that  His  sacred  humanity 
upheld  by  his  Godhead  must  bear  and  exhaust  all 
the  bitter  elements  of  that  curse  which  our  sins 
had  entailed,  in  the  midst  of  all  the  darkness,  and 
wounds,  and  agony,  and  blood,  and  exhaustion, 
and  woe,  and  weariness,  and  sighs,  and  cries,  and 
tears,  and  fainting,  and  death,  God's  Spirit  was 
there  to  whisper  words  of  consolation,  and  to 
enable  Him  to  say  in  peace  at  last,  "It  is 
finished !" 

4.  The  Resurrection  of  Christ. — "  Thou  wilt  not 
leave  my  soul  in  Ades,  neither  wilt  Thou  suffer 
Thine  Holy  One  to  see  corruption."  The  same 
Almighty  Spirit  who  anointed  Christ,  and  watched 
over  Him  with  an  unslumbering  eye  all  through 
the  various  scenes  of  His  life,  with  sleepless  vigi- 
lance watched  over  the  sacred  temple  of  His 
humanity  when  hanging  on  the  Cross,  and  when 
placed  in  the  tomb.  Oh,  with  what  love  did  He 
look  upon  that  frail  but  exquisitely  wrought  ves- 
sel of  shell  through  which  the  hidden  treasure  of 
God's  love,  mercy,  wisdom,  and  power  had  been 
put  forth  for  the  salvation  of  myriads ;  and  with 


THE   LOVE    OF   THE   SPIKIT.  157 

what  joy  when  the  predicted  moment  came  would 
He  raise  it  from  the  tomb !  What  a  sight  through 
the  love  of  God's  Spirit  would  burst  upon  the 
vision  of  the  glorified,  when  Jesus,  through  the 
Eternal  Spirit,  took  possession  of  His  throne, 
robed  in  the  garments  of  light  and  immortality, 
to  fill  heaven  with  His  redeemed,  and  their  hearts 
with  bliss  and  blessedness  for  ever  and  ever ! 

"  0  mighty  Spirit !  source  whence  all  things  spring!. 

0  glorious  Majesty  of  perfect  light ! 
Hath  ever  worthy  praise  to  Thee  been  sung, 
Or  mortal  heart  endured  to  meet  thy  sight  ? 
If  they  who  sin  have  never  known 
Must  veil  their  faces  at  Thy  throne, 
Oh,  how  shall  I,  who  am  but  sin  and  dust, 
Approach  untrembling  to  the  Pure  and  Just  ?" 

We  have  hitherto  dwelt  upon  the  love  of  the 
Spirit  as  displayed  without  the  church,  and  how 
feeble  have  been  our  attempts  to  set  forth  some 
of  its  wonderful  and  manifold  expressions ;  it 
remains  for  us  now  to  notice  His  love  as  it  shines 
resplendent  within  the  church,  and  is  made  known 

IN  THE  EXPERIENCE  OF  THE  BELIEVER. — To 

the  love  of  God's  Spirit  the  believer  owes  that  he 
is  called  to  a  knowledge  of  Christ,  of  himself,. and 
the  truth.  By  nature  he  is  a  child  of  wrath,  even 
as  others,  ignorant  of  God  and  at  enmity  with 
Him,  and  in  this  state  he  would  live  and  die  were 
it  not  that  in  due  time  the  Spirit  in  love  clothes 
14 


158  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

the  word  with  divine  power,  throws  light  into  the 
dark  mind,  slays  the  enmity  and  pride  which  reign 
within,  and  brings  the  convicted  mind  with  weep- 
ing and  supplication  to  the  footstool  of  mercy. 
Hence,  says  the  Apostle,  "  Knowing,  brethren  be- 
loved, your  election  of  God,  for  our  gospel  came 
not  unto  you  in  word  only,  but  in  power  and  in 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  in  much  assurance."  The 
voice  of  God's  Spirit,  therefore,  is  a  mighty  voice, 
but  full  of  love,  for  it  is  intended  to  sever  from 
sin,  and  to  guide  the  arrested  spirit  to  heaven. 
The  call  of  God's  Spirit,  therefore,  is  spoken  of 
as  "  high  and  holy ;"  it  confers  great  dignity  and 
elevation  of  character,  leads  to  the  most  high 
God,  and  to  love  of  holiness. 

And  the  voice  of  God's  Spirit  which  calls, 
brings  life:  "I  give  unto  my  sheep  eternal  life," 
said  Christ,  but  He  gives  this  life  by  His  Spirit ; 
"and  you  hath  he  quickened,"  says  the  Apostle, 
"who  were  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins;"  this  life 
shows  itself  in  conviction  of  sin,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  which  the  mind  turns  to  the  light  which 
manifests  its  darkness  and  condemns  it,  and  spi- 
ritual sensibility,  under  the  influence  of  which 
godly  sorrow  for  sin  is  produced.  Thus,  by  the 
love  of  God's  Spirit,  the  ancient  promise  becomes 
a  verity  in  the  experience;  "I  will  take  away 
the  heart  of  stone,  and  give  a  heart  of  flesh." 

The  manner  also  in  which  the  Spirit  does  this 
work  displays  His  love ;  kindly  and  gently  and 


THE   LOVE    OF   THE   SPIRIT.  159 

progressively  does  he  remove  our  darkness,  and 
discover  to  our  astonished  gaze  the  secrets  of  the 
charnel-house  within ;  enabling  us  by  degrees  to 
decipher  the  manifold  characters  of  death  inscribed 
by  sin  upon  the  chambers  of  imagery,  and  con- 
temporaneously imparting  a  knowledge  of  Him 
who  came  to  seek  and  to  save,  so  that  the  mind 
is  kept  from  despair.  Those,  therefore,  who  have 
been  wounded  by  God's  Spirit  know  that  He 
wounds  but  to  heal,  and  reveals  our  moral  malady 
but  to  lead  to  the  Great  Physician. 

To  the  same  Almighty  source  and  wondrous 
love  we  owe  our  pardon ;  for  although  this  is  pro- 
cured by  "Jesus,  in  whom  we  have  redemption 
through  His  blood,  the  forgiveness  of  sins  accord- 
ing to  the  riches  of  His  grace,"  it  is  the  Spirit 
who  brings  this  precious  jewel  from  the  heart  of 
Jesus,  and  makes  it  ours  by  giving  us  faith  to 
believe.  To  the  same  love  also  we  owe  our  justifi- 
cation and  adoption,  for  the  hand  which  by  faith 
sprinkles  the  blood  upon  the  conscience  brings  us 
that  righteousness  on  the  ground  of  which  we  are 
accounted  just  before  God;-  a  righteousness  so 
pure  "  that  an  angel's  tear  would  stain  it,  and  the 
blood  of  the  holiest  martyrs  would  defile  it;"  so 
perfect  that  even  God  himself,  beholding  His 
people  in  it,  declares  them  to  be  faultless,  without 
spot  or  wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing ;  a  righteous- 
ness more  glorious  than  that  of  the  highest  arch- 
angel— for  his  is  but  a  creature  righteousness, 


160  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

while    this   is   indeed   the    RIGHTEOUSNESS    OF 
GOD! 

But  not  only  does  God's  Spirit  reveal  these 
precious  things  to  us,  but  Christ  Himself,  in 
whom  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
knowledge.  Hence  the  Apostle  prayed  for  his 
brethren  that  "the  spirit  of  wisdom  and  revela- 
tion" might  be  given  to  them,  "in  the  knowledge 
of  Him.'7  This  is  the  highest  of  all  knowledge  we 
can  seeek  or  have  from  the  love  of  God's  Spirit. 
Christ  is  the  mirror  of  the  Godhead,  and  embodies 
all  created  and  uncreated  glory  in  Himself;  and 
when  the  Spirit  enlightens  the  mind,  He  ever 
throws  the  rays  of  truth  upon  the  face  of  Him 
who  is  the  fairest  of  the  fair,  the  brightness  of  the 
divine  glory,  and  the  express  image  of  His  person. 
It  is  not  sufficient  that  Christ  is  in  the  word ;  He 
must  be  revealed  to  and  enthroned  in  the  hearts 
of  those  whom  He  saves,  and  until  He  is  seen  in 
the  light  of  the  Spirit  He  will  never  be  embraced, 
and  unless  thus  embraced  there  can  never  be 
peace.  For  every  glimpse  of  Christ's  glory,  for 
every  taste  of  His  love,  for  every  perception  of 
His  varied  excellences,  we  are  indebted  to  the 
love  of  God's  Spirit.  Oh,  think  of  what  He  is, 
believer;  of  the  precious  truths  and  promises 
which  centre  in  Him,  of  His  personal  glories,  His 
unsearchable  riches,  and  acquired  dominion ;  and 
then  remember  that  thou  wouldst  never  have 
known  Him  or  called  Him  thine  but  for  the  love 


THE   LOVE   OF   THE   SPIRIT.  161 

of  God's  Spirit.  Oh,  think  that  but  for  the  love 
of  God's  Spirit,  this  sun  might  have  shone  while 
yet  your  spirit  had  never  rejoiced  in  its  light; 
this  rose  might  have  bloomed  while  yet  its  fra- 
grance had  never  reached  you;  this  fountain 
might  have  flowed,  while  yet  its  living  waters 
slaked  not  your  thirst :  with  what  adoration  and 
love,  therefore,  ought  we  to  yield  ourselves  to  the 
influence  of  God's  Spirit ! 

Our  sanctificatwn,  too,  we  owe  to  God's  Spirit ; 
He  who  brings  pardon  and  righteousness  from 
Jesus  conforms  us  to  Jesus;  and  oh,  what  love 
shines  in  this  work !  He  does  li  purge  away  our 
dross  and  take  away  our  sin,"  but  how  kindly 
does  He  accomplish  it.  We  should  wonder  at  and 
admire  the  lapidary  who  could  handle  with  such 
exquisite  tenderness  and  skill  those  minute  but 
beautiful  shells  which  the  microscope  reveals  so 
as  to  bring  out  their  latent  colours  and  beauties; 
how  much  more  should  we  admire  the  work  of 
the  Great  Sanctifier,  who,  although  He  fastened 
the  pillars  of  the  universe,  preserves  unbroken  in 
His  hands  the  frail  vessels  of  mercy,  yea,  even 
polishes  and  beautifies  them.  Strange  that  He 
should  write  the  great  name  of  Christ  upon  such 
little  things.  "We  marvel  at  the  light  which,  flying 
through  the  regions  of  space,  brings  the  pictures  of 
such  vast  bodies  to  paint  them  upon  the  eye ;  how 
much  more  marvellous  is  that  light  which  God's 
Spirit  in  love  transmits  to  the  soul  to  restore  the 


162  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

smage  of  heaven's  King  and  Lord  of  all  worlds. 
But,  oh,  the  wisdom,  patience,  and  long-suffering 
of  God's  Spirit,  developed  in  bringing  out  the 
image  of  Christ  upon  the  soul !  What  ignorance, 
stupidity,  impatience,  and  rebellion  He  has  to  con- 
tend with  in  the  prosecution  of  His  loving  work ! 
With  what  exquisite  yet  invincible  tenderness 
does  He  wrench  the  mind  from  its  idols,  scatter  its 
prejudices,  and  bring  it  by  degrees  to  embrace  the 
humbling  doctrines  of  the  Cross !  How  con- 
stantly does  He  watch  over  the  graces  which  He 
implants,  preserving  them  lively  and  active  amid 
the  moral  contagion  of  the  world,  the  nipping 
frosts  of  affliction,  the  cold  blasts  of  persecution, 
poverty,  bereavement,  and  pain ;  enabling  the 
believer  to  glory  even  in  tribulation,  "  knowing 
that  tribulation  worketh.  patience,  and  patience 
experience,  and  experience  hope."  0  Blessed 
Spirit,  in  Thy  great  LOVE  sanctify  us  wholly ! 
amid  the  atmosphere  of  Atheism  which  surrounds 
us  help  us  to  breathe  after  God ;  and  when  en- 
compassed by  corruption,  oh  grant  us  strength  to 
maintain  our  purity  !  While  passing  through  the 
vanity  fair  of  this  world,  enable  us  to  walk  as 
kings  and  priests  unto  God,  to  exhibit  the  fair 
mitre  of  holiness,  and  to  manifest  a  faithful  and 
right  loyal  spirit  to  our  Lord.  When  Satan,  too, 
assaults  us,  clothe  Thou  us  in  celestial  panoply, 
and  by  the  weapons  Thou  hast  provided  for  us 
help  us  to  put  him  to  flight.  0  teach  us  how  to 


THE   LOVE   OF   THE   SPIRIT.  163 

war  a  good  warfare,  to  fight  the  fight  of  faith  ?  to 
perfect  holiness,  to  lay  hold  on  eternal  life  ! 

Perseverance. — It  is  to  the  love  of  God's  Spirit 
we  owe  that  all  the  epistles  of  His  mercy  are  not 
destroyed,  or  the  truths  which  they  are  intended 
to  exhibit  so  obliterated  as  to  answer  no  purpose 
but  to  puzzle  and  bewilder  poor  erring  men.  It 
is  the  love  of  God's  Spirit  which  lights  all  the 
lamps  of  his  temple,  and  it  is  the  same  love  which 
prevents  their  being  extinguished  by  Satan.  It 
is  the  love  of  God's  Spirit  which  starts  the 
Christian  on  his  journey,  and  preserves  him  to 
the  end.  He  it  is  who  strengthens  him  when 
weak,  comforts  him  when  sad,  and  restores  his 
soul  again  and  again.  O  believer,  thy  faith  had 
long  ere  this  been  paralysed,  despair  had  seized 
thee,  Satan  had  spoiled  thee,  but  for  the  love  of 
God's  Spirit.  To  Him  thou  dost  owe  every  good 
thought,  every  heart- cheering  visitation  from  God, 
thy  assurance  of  interest  in  His  love,  and  joy  in 
thy  Lord.  Thou  wast  once  an  alien,  He  made 
thee  a  child ;  once  a  slave,  He  made  thee  a  son  ; 
once  a  rebel,  He  transformed  thee  to  a  friend. 
He  made  thy  body  His  temple,  thy  heart  the 
throne  of  Christ,  thy  memory  the  storehouse  of 
His  love,  thy  intellect  the  home  of  heavenly  wis- 
dom, and  thy  tongue  the  instrument  of  His 
praise ;  and  yet  thou  hast  frequently  grieved, 
slighted,  and  resisted  Him.  Oh,  how  great  the 
love  which  has  borne  with  thee,  reclaimed  thee, 


164  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

renewed  thee ;  and  notwithstanding  all  thy  pro- 
vocations, forgetfulness,  and  ingratitude,  would 
not  forsake  thee  !  Oh,  if  thou  canst  contemplate 
this  love  without  weeping  eyes,  how  hard  thy 
heart ;  if  this  love  does  not  beget  love  in  thee, 
how  desperate  thy  condition  !  0  Spirit  of  Love, 
increase  our  obligations  again  to  Thee,  arid 

"  Shed  abroad  a  Saviour's  love,  and  that  shall  kindle  ours." 

Glorification. — The  gems  polished  by 'the  hand 
of  God's  Spirit,  He  will  set  in  the  Saviour's  crown ; 
the  vessel  of  mercy  moulded  and  elaborated  by 
Him,  He  will  place  in  the  palace  of  heaven's  King. 
He  who  in  love  raised  the  sacred  humanity  of 
Christ  from  the  tomb  to  a  throne  of  glory,  will 
accomplish  the  same  work  for  all  for  whom  Christ 
has  died.  Seest  thou,  believer,  the  Sun  of  Kight- 
eousness  in  heaven,  and  the  bright  mirrors  which 
perpetually  catch  and  reflect  its  rays ;  think  then 
of  the  love  which  brightened  and  placed  them 
there !  Dost  thou  behold  the  innumerable  host 
redeemed  in  shining  raiment,  faultless  before  the 
throne  of  God,  and  dost  thou  hear  the  mighty 
song  they  raise,  like  the  sound  of  many  waters, 
and  which  perpetually  fills  the  ears  of  Him,  who 
thus  for  ever  shall  inhabit  the  praises  of  eternity  ; 
then  while  thy  heart  exalts  the  Lamb,  whose 
death  procured  the  life  of  myriads,  and  peopled 
the  vast  plains  of  heaven  with  the  victorious  co- 


THE   LOVE   OF   THE   SPIRIT.  165 

horts  of  the  redeemed  from  every  nation,  and 
kingdom,  and  tongue,  the  realms  of  desolation, 
sin,  and  sorrow,  forget  not  the  love  of  God's 
Spirit,  displayed  in  the  life,  the  triumph,  the  per- 
fection, and  exaltation  of  them  all,  and  magnify 
Him  for  so  glorious,  visible,  everlasting,  and  tri- 
umphant a  consummation  of  the  gracious,  godlike 
determination,  "  AND  ALL  THY  CHILDREN  SHALL 

BE  TAUGHT  OF  JEHOVAH,  AND  GREAT  SHALL  BE 
THE  PEACE  OF  THY  CHILDREN  I" — It  has  been 

said,  that  in  all  God  gives,  He  forgives ;  and  may 
He  forgive  us,  that  while  He  has  given  unto  us 
these  perceptions  of  the  love  of  His  Spirit,  our 
love  is  so  feeble,  and  our  praise  so  faint.  But 
seeing  we  are  so  indebted  to  the  love  of  His 
Spirit,  let  us  now  contemplate  the  influence  it 
should  exert  upon  us;  and  should  it  not  con- 
strain us  to  reciprocate  His  love,  by  holy  and 
constant  obedience,  by  childlike  confidence,  by 
listening  to  His  voice,  His  gentle  admonitions, 
and  the  corrections  of  His  faithful  love  through 
the  word;  by  yielding  ourselves  to  His  in- 
fluence, and  glorying  in  our  weakness  that  His 
power  may  rest  upon  us ;  by  taking  heed  that 
we  grieve  Him  not  by  vain  thoughts,  evil 
tempers,  or  sinful  imaginations ;  by  prizing  every 
truth  He  makes  known,  every  ray  of  light  He 
transmits,  and,  above  all,  by  cleaving  to  that 
Saviour  whom  He  loves  to  exalt ;  by  seeking  to 
discover  and  by  treasuring  up  in  our  minds  all 


166  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

the  various  pledges  of  His  love,  each  holy  thought 
and  hallowed  hour,  and  by  aiming  perpetually  to 
turn  them  into  occasions  for  adoring  gratitude 
and  praise ;  by  seeking  to  have  His  wisdom  incar- 
nate in  our  thoughts  and  words,  and  His  sweet 
refreshing  influence  like  the  morning  dew  perpe- 
tually upon  our  hearts ;  by  aiming  to  exhibit  that 
Saviour  whom  He  loves  to  reveal,  and  whose  words 
form  the  seed  of  eternal  life  which  lie  perpetually 
waters ;  by  seeking  His  help  and  teaching  at  all 
times  and  under  all  circumstances,  at  home  and 
abroad,  especially  when  engaged  in  secret  or 
public  prayer,  searching  the  Scriptures,  preaching 
or  listening  to  the  proclamation  of  the  Gospel ;  by 
watching  the  unfoldings  of  His  love  in  the  spiritual 
experience  of  which  He  is  the  Author,  and  by 
treating  with  holy  reverence  His  work,  both  in 
ourselves  and  others.  Oh  that  we  may  be  jealous 
for  His  glory,  and  never  ashamed  to  confess  our 
dependence  upon  His  teaching  and  help !  How 
sad  it  is  to  hear  men  who  profess  to  owe  all  that 
they  are  spiritually  to  the  love  of  God's  Spirit, 
indulging  in  such  a  style  of  phraseology  as  com- 
pletely hides  His  person  and  the  glory  of  His 
work ;  oh  that  the  love  of  God's  Spirit  may  so 
constrain  His  servants,  that  they  may  cease  to  hide 
God's  living  Spirit  beneath  their  cold,  vague, 
abstract,  philosophic  terms,  and  study  with  an 
agony  of  love  to  find  out  such  words  as  shall  exalt 
His  divine  personality  and  most  glorious  work ! 


THE   LOVE   OF   THE   SPIRIT.  167 

Let  us  Dear  in  mind  that  He  can  constantly 
make  the  Bible  a  new  book,  and  cause  the  truth 
He  makes  known  to  us  to  grow  in  us,  and  expand 
like  a  living  and  fruitful  tree ;  while  mere  intel- 
lectual power  and  resources  are  soon  exhausted 
and  run  themselves  dry.  In  the  service  of  the 
sanctuary,  God's  Spirit  is  the  only  well-spring  of 
spiritual  power,  freshness,  variety,  wisdom,  beauty, 
and  truth ;  and  as  Nature  requires  the  baptism  of 
the  clouds,  and  the  morning  dews,  in  order  to  her 
life  and  fruitfulness,  so  the  servant  of  Christ  needs 
to  have  his  mind  bathed  again  and  again  in  the 
living  waters  of  God's  Spirit,  and  for  the  healing, 
vivifying,  and  refreshing  dew  of  His  love  to 
freshen  all  his  mental  powers,  and  invigorate  his 
faith,  or  he  will  soon  stand  like  a  barren  tree  in  the 
garden  of  God ;  for  unless  our  gifts  are  fed  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  they  will  soon  wither  like  leaves 
severed  from  the  tree  on  which  they  grew.  We 
live  in  a  day  of  much  excitement,  and  knowledge 
is  greatly  on  the  increase  ;  but  let  us  not  deceive 
ourselves,  unless  there  is  a  more  practical  faith 
in  the  presence  and  power'  of  God's  Spirit,  and 
earnest  prayer  for  His  blessing,  the  wilderness 
of  this  world  will  never  be  made  to  rejoice  and 
blossom  as  the  rose. 

"  Sweetest  joy  the  soul  can  know 

Fairest  light  was  ever  shed, 
"Who  alike  in  joy  or  woe 
Leavest  none  unvisited ; 


168  LESSONS  FEOM  JESUS. 

Spirit  of  the  highest  God, 
Lord,  from  whom  is  life  bestow'd, 
Who  upholdest  everything, 
Hear  me,  hear  me  while  I  sing ! 

For  the  noblest  gift  Thou  art 

That  a  soul  e'er  sought  or  won 
Have  I  wish'd  Thee  to  my  heart, 

Then  my  wishing  all  is  done. 
Ah  !  then  yield  Thee,  nor  refuse 
Here  to  dwell,  for  thou  didst  choose 
This  my  heart,  from  e'en  its  birth, 
For  Thy  temple  here  on  earth. 

Thou  art  shed  like  gentlest  showers 

From  the  Father  and  the  Son, 
Bringest  to  this  earth  of  ours 

Purest  blessing  from  their  throne. 
Suffer  then,  0  noble  Guest, 
That  rich  gift  by  Thee  possesst, 
That  Thou  givest  at  Thy  will 
All  my  soul  and  flesh  to  fill. 

Thou  art  wise,  before  Thee  stand 
Hidden  things  unveil'd  to  Thee, 
Countest  up  the  grains  of  sand, 

Fathomest  the  deepest  sea. 
And  Thou  knowest  well  how  blind, 
Dark,  and  crooked  is  my  mind. 
Give  me  wisdom  in  Thy  light, 
Let  me  please  my  God  aright. 

Thou  art  holy ;  enterest  in 

"Where  pure  hearts  Thy  coming  wait ; 
But  Thou  flee'st  shame  and  sin, 

Craft  and  falsehood  Thou  dost  hate. 


THE   LOVE   OF   THE   SPIRIT.  169 

Wash  me  then,  0  Well  of  Grace, 
Every  stain  and  spot  efface ; 
Let  me  flee  what  Thou  dost  flee, 
Grant  me  what  Thou  lov'st  to  see. 

Thou  art  loving,  hatest  strife ; 

As  a  lamb  of  patient  mood, 
Calm  through  all  our  restless  life, 

Even  to  sinners  kind  and  good. 
Grant  me,  too,  this  noble  mind, 
To  be  calm,  and  true,  and  kind, 
Loving  eve*ry  friend  or  foe, 
Grieving  none  whom  Thou  dost  know. 

Well  contented  is  my  heart, 

If  but  Thou  reject  me  not ; 
If  but  Thou  wilt  ne'er  depart, 

I  am  blest  whate'er  my  lot. 
Thine  for  ever  make  me  now, 
And  to  Thee,  my  Lord,  I  vow, 
Here  and  yonder  to  employ 
Every  power  for  Thee  with  joy. 

Be  my  help  when  danger's  nigh ; 

When  I  sink  hold  Thou  me  up ; 
Be  my  life  when  I  must  die, 

In  the  grave  be  Thou  my  hope. 
Bring  me  when  I  rise  again 
To  the  land  that  knows  no  pain, 
Where  Thy  followers  from  Thy  stream 
Drink  for  ever  joys  supreme." 

PAUL  GERHARDT.     1635. 
Lyra  Germanica. 


15 


"  Still  nigh  me,  0  my  Saviour,  stand, 

And  guard  in  fierce  temptation's  hour , 
Hide  in  the  hollow  of  Thy  hand, 

Show  forth  in  me  Thy  saving  power ; 
Still  be  Thine  arm  my  sure  defence, 
Nor  earth  nor  hell  shall  pluck  me  thence. 

In  suffering,  be  Thy  love  my  peace ; 

In  weakness,  be  Thy  love  my  power. 
And  when  the  storms  of  life  shall  cease, 

Jesus,  in  that  important  hour, 
In  death,  as  life,  be  Thou  my  guide, 
And  save  me,  who  for  me  hath  died." 

"Satan,  in  his  temptations,  strikes  principally  at  the  faith  of 
God's  people,  that  being  the  grace  which  gives  most  glory  to  God, 
and  in  the  exercise  of  which  believers  have  much  peace,  joy,  and 
comfort ;  and  it  is  also  a  shield  which  keeps  off  and  quenches  his 
fiery  darts,  and  therefore  he  endeavours  all  he  can  to  weaken  and 
destroy  it,  or  wrest  it  out  of  their  hands."  DR.  GILL. 


OR, 

THE  CHRISTIAN'S  DANGER. 


"  And  the  Lord  said,  Simon,  Simon,  behold  Satan  hath 
desired  to  have  you,  that  he  may  sift  you  as  wheat :  but  I  have 
prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith  fail  not:  and  when  thou  art 
converted,  strengthen  thy  brethren" — Luke  xxii.  31,  32. 

THESE  words  must  have  fallen  with  terrible  em- 
phasis upon  the  ears  of  Peter.  In  the  present 
pseudo -philosophical  age,  the  doctrine  of  Satanic 
influence  is  either  altogether  ignored  or  referred 
to  as  a  myth  belonging  to  the  dark  ages  of  the 
world's  history.  With  what  awful  solemnity, 
however,  does  our  Saviour  refer  to  it,  and  how 
the  heart  of  Peter  must  have  quailed  before  His 
words ;  to  be  told  by  the  lips  that  never  err  that 
the  great  adversary  had  an  especial  desire  for  his 
destruction,  how  fearful,  how  awful!  Why,  it 
was  like  telling  him  that  he  stood  upon  the  mouth 
of  hell,  and  that  the  flames  of  the  bottomless  pit 
were  spreading  around  him ;  and  had  not  the  Lord 


172  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

added  the  consolatory  words,  "  but  I  have  prayed 
for  thee,"  the  dreadful  intelligence  would  doubt- 
less have  pressed  him  down  to  despair.  And 
what,  reader,  would  be  your  feelings  were  such 
language  addressed  to  you  ?  Would  it  not  make 
you  tremble  to  be  told  by  the  God  who  made  you, 
that  the  Lion  of  hell  was  watching  you,  especially 
with  a  view  to  your  present  and  everlasting 
destruction  ?  Be  it  known  to  you,  then,  that  thus 
you  are  addressed  ;  for  does  not  His  book  inform 
us  that  the  "  great  Evil  One"  "  goeth  about  as  a 
roaring  lion,  seeking  whom  he  may  devour?" 
And  who  can  tell  how  soon  he  may  cross  your 
path,  and  you  may  be  crushed  in  his  awful  em- 
brace? No  doubt  Satan's  thoughts  have  em- 
braced you  in  common  with  others,,  though  as  yet 
you  have  not  felt  the  sting  of  his  perfected 
designs.  Let  us,  therefore,  prayerfully  contem- 
plate some  few  of  the  truths  presented  to  our  view 
by  this  solemn  admonition  from  the  lips  of  the 
Great  Teacher. 

The  Omniscience  of  Christ. — It  is  interesting  tos 
contemplate  Christ  gazing  upon  the  material 
world  as  it  spread  around  him,  and  exhorting  His 
disciples  to  consider  the  lilies  of  the  field,  and  to 
listen  to  the  good  news  they  proclaimed ;  to  hear 
His  voice  giving  utterance  to  the  language  of 
flowers,  and  to  behold  Him  spreading  them  before 
His  disciples  as  the  mute  expositors  of  His  Fa- 
ther's love :  but  He  appears  more  sublime  and 


THE   DISCIPLE   ADMONISHED.  173 

impressive  as  we  behold  Him  looking  into  tlio 
invisible  world  and  marking  the  movements  of 
man's  terrible  adversary — gazing  upon  that  fallen 
spirit  whose  footsteps  though  so  noiseless,  are  ever 
attended  by  so  much  mischief  and  desolation  to 
men.  Yes,  not  only  did  the  panorama  of  this 
world  paint  itself  upon  the  eye  of  Christ,  but  the 
persons  and  doings  of  an  unseen  world  were 
reflected  there.  He  looked  upon  Satan,  He  held 
his  chain,  and  marked  his  every  step ;  the  heaving 
of  his  heart,  the  beating  of  his  pulse,  as  by  an 
electric  chord,  was  communicated  to  His  hand, 
and  He  knew  how  and  when  to  loosen  or  to 
tighten  his  bonds ;  for  while  the  hand  was  frail 
the  power  was  divine.  Christ  looked  upon  Satan, 
did  we  say  ?  more,  He  looked  within  him ;  the 
very  heart  of  the  Devil  was  open  to  his  eye — all 
the  dark  chambers  of  that  infernal  palace  were 
open  to  Him,  He  walked  through  them  at  His 
pleasure — all  the  wards  of  that  intricate  and  mys- 
terious lock  were  perceived  by  Him,  and  He  could 
fit  a  key  to  them  at  His  pleasure ;  deep  as  was  the 
fountain  of  evil  within  that  dark  heart,  He  could 
fathom  its  secret  depths ;  desperately  wicked  as 
was  that  heart,  He  knew  its  every  device,  could 
unravel  all  those  subtle  and  ingenious  threads, 
intended  to  entangle  the  feet  of  His  saints ;  He 
watched  their  painful  and  elaborate  production  in 
that  prolific  house  of  misery  and  sin,  and,  as  often 
as  it  pleased  Him,  put  His  fingers  upon  the  cocoons 
15* 


174  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

of  hell  before  the  objects  to  be  accomplished  by 
them  were  effected.  The  nets  intended  for  the 
birds  of  paradise  He  frequently  destroyed,  and 
many  half-formed  purposes  of  ill  to  His  church 
He  crushed  in  their  birth.  Beneath  piles  of  Sata- 
nic produce,  hidden  in  the  most  secret  recesses  of 
Satan's  bosom,  He  saw  coiled  up  the  viper  of 
burning  hatred,  whose  especial  vocation  was  to  be 
the  ruin  of  His  servant  Peter,  and  He  put  His 
foot  upon  its  head  at  once.  "  I  have  prayed  for 
thee."  Here  was  the  dart  that  touched  its  life, 
and  placed  it  beneath  the  feet  of  the  impulsive 
but  loving  disciple.  Oh,  to  be  surrounded  by 
such  a  wall  of  fire,  to  be  shielded  by  the  breath  of 
Omnipotence,  and  made  invulnerable  by  the  cries 
and  tears  of  the  Son  of  God !  And  let  us  not 
forget  that  what  Jesus  did  for  His  servant  in  days 
that  are  passed,  He  does  for  His  disciples  in  every 
age ;  all  are  embraced  in  His  petitions,  and  pro-' 
served  by  His  prayers ;  like,  as  the  earth  is  sur- 
rounded by  the  air  which  ministers  to  the  life  of 
every  living  thing,  so  the  intercession  of  Jesus 
perpetually  embraces  His  -church,  and  brings  to 
her  all  those  elements  of  truth,  succour,  and  con- 
solation which  are  essential  to  her  spiritual  life 
and  preservation. 

THE  DANGER  PERCEIVED." — Satan  has  desired 
to  have  thee" — The  desires  of  Satan  are  vast  and 
destructive ;  he  desires  to  have  all  men,  but  espe- 
cially the  saints.  These  are  the  flowers  of  God's 


THE   DISCIPLE   ADMONISHED.  175 

garden,  and  he  loves  to  pull  them  up ;  the  lamps 
of  God's  temple,  and  he  would  fain  blow  them  out; 
the  epistles  of  divine  truth,  and  he  is  ever  anxious 
to  tear  them  to  pieces ;  the  golden  vessels  of  the 
upper  sanctuary,  destined  for  ever  to  reflect  God's 
praise  and  his  disgrace,  and  hence  he  seeks  per- 
petually to  mar  their  beauty.  Mere  professors 
cost  Satan  but  little  trouble  and  seldom  excite  his 
ire ;  they  mostly  sleep  in  his  arms,  and  he  carries 
them  where  he  pleases  without  trouble  ;  their 
words,  for  the  most  part,  accord  with  his  will,  and 
their  lamp  has  no  light  to  expose  his  designs; 
but  all  true  Christians  he  hates,  because  they 
belong  to  Christ,  love  Christ,  exhibit  Christ,  and 
fight  for  Christ ;  because  they  expose  his  designs, 
pierce  him  with  the  truth,  and  frequently  con- 
quer him  by  their  prayers.  Now  the  danger  of 
Christians,  as  arising  from  their  great^adversary, 
is  to  be  traced  chiefly  to  two  things;  the  character 
of  their  foe,  and  the  failure  of  their  faith. 

The  character  of  their  foe. — Satan  is  not  omnis- 
cient, but  he  has  great  knowledge ;  our  acquaint- 
ance with  ourselves  may  be  very  superficial,  but 
it  is  not  so  with  Satan.  There  may  be  but  very 
little  introspection  with  him,  for  what  can  he  see 
within  himself  but  misery?  But  he  has  a  peculiar 
desire  to  look  into  man — has  made  him  his  espe- 
cial study,  and  age  after  age  has  accumulated  all 
kinds  of  information  respecting  him ;  and  as  the 
result,  most  men  are  better  known  to  their  great 


176  'LESSONS   FEOM   JESUS. 

adversary  than  to  themselves.  This  might  well  fill 
them  with  terror,  and  would,  if  they  fully  believed 
it.  Most  men,  however,  laugh  at  Satan's  chains 
while  they  wear  them.  Philosophic  pride  may 
think  itself  quite  able  to  fortify  the  soul  against 
all  danger,  while  Satan  laughs  at  its  efforts,  and 
sits  smiling  in  the  midst  of  its  fruitless  labours. 
Living  age  after  age,  man's  great  foe  seldom 
witnesses  anything  new,  whilst  his  vast  memory, 
with  the  experience  of  the  past,  can  supply  him 
in  a  moment  with  a  suitable  weapon,  wherewith 
to  bring  down  any  foe.  The  heart  of  man  may 
be  deep,  but  he  can  find  his  way  into  its  most 
secret  recesses,  and  is  perfectly  at  home  amid  all 
its  unfoldings :  hence,  while  man  is  often  an  enigma 
to  himself,  his  arch  enemy  reads  him  with  the 
greatest  ease,  and  will  ever  present  the  right  bait 
at  the  right  time ;  and  while  his  knowledge  is 
ever  accurate,  practical,  profound,  and  present,  it 
does  not  terrify  him.  He  has  but  to  look  within 
for  the  darkest  and  most  bloody  episodes  of  this 
world's  history ;  but  the  sight  of  it  does  not  un- 
nerve him  or  divert  him  from  his  purpose.  He 
has  been  accumulating  wrath  against  the  day  of 
wrath,  age  after  age,  but  still  he  works  on,  nor 
does  the  awful  mound  paralyse  him.  He  delights 
in  cruelty;  and  hence  with  the  arrows  of  the 
Almighty  in  him,  he  loves  to  inflict  pain.  He 
has  witnessed  the  tears,  the  cries,  and  despairing 
and  dying  agonies  of  myriads,  not  only  without 


THE   DISCIPLE   ADMONISHED.  177 

pain,  but  with  joy.  He  is  persevering,  too,  in 
the  accomplishment  of  his  designs ;  whoever  may 
sleep,  he  never  does,  but  by  night  and  day,  at  all 
times,  and  under  all  circumstances,  he  works  on 
for  the  destruction  of  men.  Arising  out  of  his 
knowledge,  cruelty,  and  perseverance,  he  has 
great  power ;  so  that  even  those  who  have  been 
helped  to  conquer  him,  have  mostly  had  to  feel 
and  to  acknowledge  the  weight  of  his  hand.  This 
fact  our  Saviour  brings  before  us,  in  the  figure  he 
employs.  "  Satan  has  desired  to  have  thee,  that 
he  may  sift  thee  as  wheat."  Just  as  easily  as  a 
strong  man  tosses  about  wheat  in  a  sieve,  so  easily 
does  Satan  toss  men  about  under  the  influence  of 
temptation.  What  a  forcible  illustration  we  have 
of  this  in  the  life  of  Peter ;  had  not  the  interces- 
sion of  his  Lord  grasped  the  hand  of  his  great 
adversary,  with  what  ease  would  he  have  tossed 
him  into  hell,  as  he  has  done  numbers  even  while 
in  the  very  act  of  denying  his  power.  While 
thus  contemplating  man's  weakness  in  contrast 
with  Satanic  power,  with  what  a  solemn  emphasis 
do  the  words  of  Christ  fall  upon  the  ear,  "  Sirnon, 
Simon,  behold  Satan  hath  desired  to  have  thee, 
that  he  may  sift  thee  as  wheat." 

"Ah,  Simon,  thou  art  full  of  love,  and  zeal,  and 
self-confidence,  but  alas !  alas !  shouldst  thou  be 
left  for  a  single  moment,  did  my  prayers  cease  to 
embrace  thee,  thy  weakness  would  soon  appear, 
and  thy  soul  would  be  lost.  The  enemy  would 


178  LESSONS   FHOM  JESUS. 

put  his  hand  upon  thee,  and  thy  ruin  would  be 
sealed."  Dear  reader,  does  not  thy  soul  shrink 
within  thee  lest  thou  shouldst  be  so  left?  Oh, 
think  of  the  numbers  who  have  fallen  in  a  moment, 
and  that  to  rise  no  more.  Oh,  think  of  their  tears 
and  confessions  ;  they  meditated  not  the  deed 
which  destroyed  them,  but  Satan  was  at  hand, 
and  they  believed  it  not,  and  down  they  went. 
Trifle  not  with  temptation  ;  fly  for  thy  life  at 
once,  0  reader,  to  the  strong  for  strength. 

But,  after  all,  our  great  danger  arises  from  ano- 
ther source,  the  failure  of  our  faith.  ' '  I  have  prayed 
for  thee,"  said  Christ,  "  that  thy  faith  fail  not." 
While  the  hand  of  faith  grasps  its  shield  we  are 
safe,  the  fiery  darts  of  our  great  enemy  fall  harm- 
less at  our  feet ;  but  this  hand,  it  seems,  may,  for 
a  time  be  paralysed,  and  so  leave  us  open  and 
exposed  to  the  assaults  of  our  dreaded  foe.  Here, 
then,  we  have  that  which  is  more  to  be  feared  than 
Satan  himself.  Oh,  ye  who  have  no  faith,  what  will 
ye  do  in  the  day  of  battle  ?  do  ye  not  perceive  how 
certain  it  is,  that  unless  this  shield  is  thine  the 
battle  must  prevail  against  thee  ?  "  Fight  the  good 
fight  of  faith,"  said  a  good  soldier  of  the  Cross;  but 
if  thou  hast  not  faith,  how  canst  thou  fight?  Here 
is  thy  weakness,  reader ;  for  it  is  faith  that  saves 
us.  Dost  thou  inquire  how  ?  By  teaching  us  to 
have  no  confidence  in  ourselves,  but  great  confi- 
dence in  God ;  by  tdking  us  to  the  blood  of  Christ 
for  the  forgiveness  of  our  sins ;  and  His  righteous- 


THE   DISCIPLE   ADMONISHED.  179 

ness  for  the  justification  of  our  persons ;  by  helping 
us  to  realize  the  presence  of  God — and  who  can  sin 
in  His  presence  ? — by  fetching  in  fresh  strength, 
and  enabling  us  to  watch,  wait,  and  pray.  But 
now  mark,  dear  reader,  while  faith  through  these 
means  bruises  Satan  beneath  thy  feet,  thou  may- 
est  not  praise  thy  faith,  deify  thy  faith,  attach 
merit  to  thy  faith;  thy  faith  saves  thee  because 
Christ  prays  and  prevails,  because  He  lives.  "  I 
have  prayed  that  thy  faith  fail  not."  We  can- 
not be  saved  without  faith,  but  Christ  gives  it, 
and  His  intercession  is  the  root  of  its  strength. 
Faith  works,  but  works  by  love,  and  Jesus  finds 
this  and  keeps  it  alive.  Like  Peter,  we  sometimes 
forget  to  pray,  forget  to  watch ;  but  oh,  what  a 
mercy  Jesus  does  not !  His  eye  never  sleeps,  His 
arm  never  grows  weary,  His  lips  never  falter,  but 
the  sweet  incense  of  His  adorable  intercession  con- 
stantly ascends  before  the  throne,  and  hence  His 
people  live.  This  explains  how  it  is,  believer, 
that  thou  hast  been  helped  to  persevere,  and  in- 
forms thee  why  thy  faith  has  not  become  a  with- 
ered blasted  thing,  and  thy  life  as  barren  as  thy 
faith ;  how,  though  often  cast  down,  thou  hast  not 
been  destroyed,  though  often  wounded  thou  hast 
not  been  killed.  Oh,  then,  while  you  watch  and 
pray,  and  seek  as  for  your  life  that  your  faith  fail 
not,  see  to  it  that  the  praise  of  its  strength  and  its 
victories  be  given  to  Him  who  is  its  great  Author 
and  Finisher ! 


180  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

Bat,  dear  reader,  what  if  thou  hast  not  faith? 
Then  thou  hast  no  Intercessor  ?  What  words  can 
describe  thy  danger;  art  thou  not  afraid,  dost 
thou  not  tremble  at  the  thought  of  being  left  in 
the  hands  of  him  who  has  ruined  myriads  ?  Art 
thou  a  match  for  him  who  is  the  prince  of  the 
power  of  the  air  ?  art  thou  equal  to  his  knowledge, 
power,  cruelty,  and  perseverance ?  Oh,  let  him  bat 
loosen  upon  thee  the  full  blast  of  temptation,  and, 
unaided  of  God,  all  thy  fancied  strength,  wisdom, 
and  courage  will  be  torn  to  pieces,  and  fly  like  a 
spider's  web  before  the  whirlwind.  Fly  thou  to 
Christ,  let  Him  be  thy  shield  and  buckler,  and 
teach  thee  how  to  conquer  him  who  otherwise 
inust  be  thy  victor  and  lord. 

But  if  we  have  learnt  these  truths  for  ourselves, 
there  is  a  duty  incumbent  upon  us.  "  And  when 
thou  art  converted,  strengthen  thy  brethren,"  said 
Christ ;  "  tell  them  never  to  despair,  that  I  can 
subdue  their  temptations,  and  preserve  them  from 
the  tempter ;  proclaim  my  love  and  faithfulness ; 
let  the  weak,  the  timid,  and  the  doubting  hear 
how  I  saved  thee  from  the  hand  of  the  spoiler ; 
I  have  restored  thee,  go  thou  and  restore  others ; 
I  have  bound  up  thy  wounds,  go  thou  and  bind 
up  the  wounds  of  others.  Dost  thou  see  men 
rushing  forth  like  moths  towards  the  fire  of  hell, 
warn  them  of  their  danger,  and  inform  them  of 
your  escape."  Thus  Jesus  teaches  and  exhorts 
His  servants,  especially  those  whose  backslidings 


THE   DISCIPLE   ADMONISHED.  181 

He  heals,  and  who  are  restored  by  His  grace. 
Our  plan  is  to  keep  the  gold  from  the  fire ;  His 
plan  is  to  bring  it  through  the  furnace  that  it  maj 
the  more  abundantly  reflect  His  praise.  Our  plan 
is  to  fill  the  mouth  with  words;  His  to  fill  the 
mind  with  thoughts  and  the  heart  with  love. 
"Prayer,  temptation,  and  meditation,"  still  make 
the  ministers  of  Christ;  let  us  pray,  therefore, 
for  such,  and  entreat  the  Lord  to  send  forth  men 
who,  being  thus  qualified  of  Himself,  shall  be 
able  to  speak  to  the  hearts  of  both  saint  and  sin- 
ner, that  so  both  may  be  profited  and  saved. 

"Thou  seest  my  feebleness; 

Jesus,  be  Thou  my  power, 

My  help  and  refuge  in  distress, 

My  fortress  and  my  tower 


Give  me  to  trust  in  Thee ; 

Be  Thou  my  sure  abode ; 
My  horn,  and  rock,  and  buckler  be, 

My  Saviour  and  my  G-od. 

Myself  I  cannot  love, 

Myself  I  cannot  keep, 
But  strength  in  Thee  I  surely  have, 

Whose  eyelids  never  sleep. 

My  soul,  to  Thee  alone 

Now,  therefore,  I  commend  ; 

Thou,  Jesus,  love  me  as  Thine  own, 
And  love  me  to  the  end." 

16 


"  Cling  to  the  Crucified : 
His  death  is  life  to  thee — 
Life  for  eternity ! 
His  pains  thy  pardon  seal ; 
His  stripes  thy  bruises  heal ; 
His  cross  proclaims  thy  peace, 
Bids  every  sorrow  cease. 
His  blood  is  all  to  thee, 
It  purges  thee  from  sin ; 
It  sets  thy  spirit  free, 
It  keeps  thy  conscience  clean. 
Cling  to  the  Crucified  I 

Cling  to  the  Crucified : 
His  is  a  heart  of  love, 
Full  as  the  hearts  above ; 
Its  depths  of  sympathy 
Are  all  awake  for  thee. 
His  countenance  is  light, 
Even  in  the  darkest  night. 
That  love  shall  never  change, 
That  light  shall  ne'er  grow  dim. 
Charge  thou  thy  faithless  heart 
To  find  its  all  in  Him. 
Cling  to  the  Crucified!" 

"Meditate  much  and  often  on  the  sufferings  of  your  Lord. 
You  may  thus  need  less  personal  suffering  to  teach  you  to  hate 
the  sin  that  caused  them.  In  all  His  afflictions  be  thou  afflicted. 
Be  not  estranged  in  sympathy  from  the  best  friend  of  your  soul. 
Live  only  to  be  like  Him.  Let  the  first  desire  of  your  heart  be 
fixed  on  the  attainment  of  holiness." — Christ  on  the  Cross. 


Jwtetcys  of 


OR, 


JESUS  CRUCIFIED. 


in 


aw  agony  he  prayed  more  earnestly  :  and 
his  sweat  was  as  it  were  great  drops  of  blood  falling  down 
to  the  ground."  —  Luke  xxii.  44. 

How  little  can  we  understand  of  the  sufferings  of 
Jesus  !  Into  the  sacred  sanctuary  of  His  sorrows 
who  dares  to  enter  ?  Our  best  attemps  to  come 
near  to  Him  leave  us  standing  at  a  distance,  gaz- 
ing upon  Him  afar  off.  The  sea  of  His  grief  was 
deep,  and  we  behold  Him  tossed  to  and  fro  as  by 
an  unseen  hand,  but  we  hear  very  little  of  the 
fury  of  the  storm.  A  shallow,  superficial  nature 
heaves  and  roars  beneath  the  slightest  breeze  of 
affliction  ;  but  the  holy  nature  of  Jesus,  calm  and 
deep  at  all  times,  scarcely  utters  a  moan  amid  the 
terrors  of  the  most  dreadful  storm.  Very  few 


184  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

and  slight  are  the  intimations  of  His  sorrows,  who 
was  most  emphatically  "a  man  of  sorrows,  and 
acquainted  with  grief."  From  His  own  lips  we 
can  gather  but  little  to  guide  us  over  the  dark 
and  dreadful  sea  where  for  a  time  He  appeared  to 
drift,  forsaken,  naked,  desolate,  and  alone.  The 
great  ocean  of  His  anguish  was  too  deep  to  utter 
its  voice.  Its  great  waves  heave  and  roll  on 
beneath  the  eye  in  awful  majesty  and  silence. 
Jesus  seldom  spoke  while  all  the  waves  and 
billows  of  God's  wrath  were  passing  over  Him, 
and  of  the  meaning  of  the  few  words  which  He 
did  utter  we  can  apprehend  but  little.  His  grief 
was  too  deep  for  tears,  too  great  for  words. 
"  Behold,"  said  one  of  old,  "and  see  if  there  be 
any  sorrows  like  unto  my  sorrow."  No  doubt 
the  sorrows  of  this  good  man  were  great ;  still 
we  could  have  understood  them,  and  felt  for  him, 
for  he  was  a  man,  like  unto  ourselves.  But  Jesus 
—the  holy,  the  pure,  the  unselfish  Jesus — how 
can  we  appreciate  His  ?  And  yet  it  is  right  that 
we  should  strive  to  apprehend  at  least  a  little  of 
His  sorrows,  for  they  were  the  sorrows  of  huma- 
nity, and  most  emphatically  our  own.  He  bore 
our  griefs  and  carried  our  sorrows;  "the  chas- 
tisement of  our  peace  was  upon  him ;  and  with 
his  stripes  we  are  healed."  May  the  Holy  Spirit 
guide  our  meditations ! 

"And  being  in  an  agony  lie  prayed  more  fer- 
vently}'1    What  could  be  the  cause  of  His  an- 


FOOTSTEPS   OF  LOVE.  185 

guish  ?  As  yet  His  back  was  not  given  to  the 
scourge,  nor  His  sacred  temples  to  the  thorns. 
His  quivering  flesh  shrunk  not  as  yet  from  the 
rugged  nails ;  nor  was  His  body  oppressed  by 
His  weighty  cross.  What  could  it  be,  then? 
Ah,  there  was  a  Hand  present,  administering  the 
elements  of  a  bitter  cup,  which  no  human  eye 
could  perceive.  There  was  a  pressure  from  the 
hand  of  God  which  no  soul  could  feel  but  His 
own.  "It  pleased  the  Father  to  bruise  him." 
Jesus  suffered  not  simply  as  a  man,  but  as  the 
Surety  of  His  people.  Their  sins  were  upon 
Him  by  imputation,  and  the  hand  of  His  Father's 
justice  must  inflict  the  penalty.  Already  some 
few  drops  of  the  coming  storm  have  fallen  upon 
His  holy  soul,  and  amazed,  and  prostrate,  and 
full  of  agony  unutterable,  He  falls  to  the  ground. 
His  very  pores  weep  blood.  0  sin,  sin,  sin! 
what  hast  thou  done?  This  is  thy  dreadful 
work; — -'twas  thou,  my  soul — thy  sins  which 
brought  the  Father's  hand  upon  His  Son,  until 
He  weeps  and  cries,  "If  it  be  possible,  let  this 
cup  pass  away."  He  saw  in  the  distance  the 
cruel  soldiery,  the  purple  robe,  the  crown  of 
thorns,  the  weary  journey,  the  infuriated  crowd, 
the  lingering,  protracted  death;  but  it  was  not 
the  apprehension  of  these  which  filled  His  soul 
with  agony, — there  were  deeper  wounds  than 
these,  and  even  now  He  felt  their  smart.  His 
Father's  hand  must  smite  Him,  and  from  the  en- 
16* 


186  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

joyment  of  His  love  He  must  for  a  time  be  cut 
off.  This  was  the  dread  penalty  He  must  endure, 
and  it  was  this  which 

"  Made  the  sacred  drops  of  anguish  fall  " — 

and  drew  such  importunate  cries  from  His  lips. 
Think  of  this,  0  my  soul !  and  learn  to  hate  those 
sins  which  placed  a  gulf  between  even  the  soul 
of  the  holy  Jesus  and  that  Father  whom  He  so 
loved. 

But  deep  as  was  the  agony  of  Jesus,  it  sealed 
not  up  His  lips,  nor  prevented  the  access  of  His 
spirit  to  God.  He  still  embraced  the  Hand  which 
smote  Him.  The  storm  was  severe,  but  still  His 
simple,  confiding,  and  child-like  faith  pointed  to 
His  Father  in  heaven.  His  God  had  said,  "  He 
would  hold  His  hand ;"  and  now  that  the  deep 
waters  have  come  into  His  soul,  and  He  sinks 
where  there  is  no  standing,  He  pleads  and  rests 
upon  the  promise.  It  is  deeply  affecting  to  con- 
template the  soul  of  man  struggling  amid  the 
storms  of  life  to  reach  upward  towards  God,  the 
source  of  its  strength.  How  much  more  so  to 
contemplate  the  struggles  of  His  soul,  who,  single- 
handed  and  alone,  had  to  grapple  with  all  our 
foes,  and  to  stand  beneath  all  our  accumulated 
sorrows.  And  yet  our  Saviour  failed  not:  no, 
He  prayed  "  more  fervently.'1'1  The  storm  was 
loud,  but  His  voice  was  louder  than  the  storm ; 


FOOTSTEPS   OF  LOVE.  187 

His  anguish  was  great,  but  His  prayers  were 
greater.  Oh,  reader,  what  an  example  to  thee 
amid  the  battle  of  life,  the  temptations  of  Satan, 
the  sophistries  of  reason,  the  mysteries  of  provi- 
dence, and  the  dark  shadows  of  the  grave,  to  pray 
on  and  on,  and  still  more  fervently ;  the  darker 
the  night,  the  heavier  the  cross !  This  will  help 
us  to  stand  in  the  trying  day,  to  hope  against 
hope,  to  battle  with  all  our  foes;  and  however 
rudely  the  winds  of  trial,  and  temptation,  and 
affliction  may  blow,  will  keep  us  from  making 
shipwreck  of  faith  amid  the  storms  of  life. 


^niter's     m. 


"  But  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Judas,  letrayest  tJiou  the  Son  of 
man  with  a  kiss?"  —  Luke  xxii.  48. 

WITH  what  a  holy  calm  and  divine  serenity 
does  Christ  go  forth  to  meet  the  traitor  who  was 
to  betray  Him  into  the  hands  of  sinners  ;  with 
what  a  sweet  and  holy  dignity  from  the  knee  of 
prayer  does  He  now  gird  himself  for  the  terrible 
conflict  ! 

The  very  atmosphere  of    heaven   and  peace 
seems  to  clothe  Him;  already  His  dreadful  an- 


188  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

guish  had  pressed  blood  from  His  pores,  and  weak 
and  exhausted  He  goes  on  His  way  to  meet  the 
men  whom  He  knew  were  seeking  His  life,  and, 
self-possessed  and  unmoved,  He  fronts  His  foes. 
The  traitor's  kiss  excites  no  anger  nor  surprise ; 
in  meek  and  lowly  grandeur  He  simply  says : 
"  Judas,  betray est  thou  the  Son  of  man  with  a 
kiss  ?'!  And  yet,  oh  what  a  heart  that  kiss  be- 
trayed !  Judas  had  seen  the  bright  unveiling  of 
His  face  whom  he  thus  betrayed  ;  he  had  beheld 
His  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father, 
full  of  grace  and  truth ;  he  had  witnessed  His 
miracles,  heard  the  words  of  wisdom  which  fell 
from  his  lips,  followed  Him  into  the  charmed 
circle  of  private  life,  and  seen  His  mild  glory 
there ;  and  yet  he  could  sell  Him  for  thirty 
pieces  of  silver,  and  hand  Him  over  to  death  with 
a  kiss !  Surely,  if  ever  hypocrisy  was  incarnate, 
and  cruelty  and  insensibilty  ever  surpassed  them- 
selves in  utmost  wickedness,  it  was  when  a  dis- 
ciple's kiss  handed  over  immaculate  purity  to  a 
felon's  death — and  yet  this  kiss  excites  no  start 
of  horror,  no  elaborate  comment  from  the  lips  of 
love.  And  it  was  well :  Christ  left  the  thing  to 
preach  itself;  He  knew  that  nryriads  of  loving 
hearts  would  shrink  from  it  if  He  did  not ;  that 
the  thing  itself  was  its  own  execration.  It  wanted 
not  His  words  to  seal  its  character  on  the  page 
of  time :  it  had  imprc  ssed  itself  never  to  be 
effaced.  Judas  may  weep  and  shed  his  blood, 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  189 

but  still  the  kiss  remains,  a  scar  upon  the  face  of 
this  world's  fame,  never  to  be  removed; — a  dark, 
deep,  awful  blot  upon  its  vaunted  purity  and 
virtue ; — a  witness  of  the  state  of  man  left  to  him- 
self, and  of  the  desperate  wickedness  of  the  human 
heart. 

Strange  that  the  lips  of  purity  should  be  thus 
defiled.  Satan  himself  might  well  have  blushed  to 
witness  such  a  deed,  and  all  hell  have  shrieked 
an  execration ;  but  Jesus  simply  says,  "  Betray est 
thou  the  Son  of  man  with  a  kiss  ?"  Ah,  there 
were  deeper  wounds  within  than  it  could  make ; 
and  deeper  to  be  made.  The  traitor's  kiss  could 
scarcely  turn  the  skin ;  deep  sorrow  had  already 
seized  His  heart,  and  there  was  scarcely  room  for 
more.  The  man  whose  body  is  stretched  upon  a 
rack,  wrill  hardly  mark  an  insect's  sting.  And 
perhaps,  dear  reader,  were  some  heavy  sorrow 
now  to  roll  upon  thy  soul,  thou  then  wouldst  see 
that  thou  hadst  made  too  much  of  passing  grief. 
Bethink  thee  of  thy  Saviour's  heavy  heart,  and 
learn  to  bear  the  lighter  ills  of  life  unmoved.  And 
should  thy  wrongs  be  great,  fret  not  thyself  in  any 
wise  to  do  evil ;  remember  thy  Saviour  and  the 
traitor's  kiss,  and  leave  the  bad  deeds  of  thy  .foes 
to  proclaim  themselves,  and  God  shall  vindicate 
thy  name.  The  kiss  of  Judas  was  the  foil  of 
Jesus's  love  ;  and  evil  words  and  deeds  shall  but 
beget  thee  fame  if  thou  wilt  strive  to  imitate  thy 
Lord.  But  why  have  we  dwelt  upon  the  traitor's 


190  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

kiss  ? — to  hold  him  up  to  scorn  ?  Oh,  no  ;  he 
was  a  man,  we  are  not  more  ;  he  followed  Jesus, 
so  may  we  ;  he  listened  to  Jesus,  so  may  we  ;  he 
prayed  with  Jesus,  so  may  we  ;  professed  to  love 
Jesus,  so  may  we:  but  he  betrayed  Jesus,  so  may 
we.  Let,  then,  the  traitor's  kiss  admonish  us ; 
and,  while  we  much  profess  with  the  lip,  let  us 
pray  to  God  for  a  honest  heart,  and  to  keep  us 
from  ourselves  and  our  foes. 


e1  false  Cfeargt. 


"  And  they  began  to  accuse  him,  saying,  We  found  this 
fellow  perverting  the  nation,  and  forbidding  to  give  tribute 
to  Ccesar,  saying  that  he  himself  is  Christ  a  King.1'  —  Luke 
xxiii.  2. 


the  heart  of  man  has  determined  upon  a 
crime,  it  will  ever  furnish  him  with  sophistries 
wherewith  to  justify  its  perpetration.  The  Phari- 
sees desired  to  get  rid  of  Christ  ;  and  the  enmity 
from  which  the  desire  sprang,  found  plenty  of 
reasons  why  He  ought  to  die.  And  if  the  heart  of 
man  was  bad  enough  to  originate  these,  what  is 
there  that  it  will  not  produce  ?  It  is  not  sufficient 
that  Jesus  die  simply  ;  the  malice  of  the  false  reli- 
gionists of  His  day  must  have  more.  The  very 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  191 

name  of  Christ  must  be  a  bye-word  and  reproach. 
He  must  be  made  an  execration  and  a  curse. 
He  must  be  numbered  with  transgressors  and  die 
a  felon's  death.  He  who  never  sinned  must  die 
as  a. sinner ;  He  who  embodied  His  father's  law  in 
his  heart  and  life,  must  perish  as  a  lawless  one. 
He  vindicated  the  truth  from  the  false  glosses  of 
the  Pharisees ;  and  they  declared  He  had  per- 
verted the  nation.  He  said,  u 'Bender  to  Caesar 
the  things  that  are  Caesar's;'7  and  they  declared 
He  had  instructed  the  people  to  withhold  tribute 
from  Caesar.  He  had  fled  from  the  people  when 
they  would  have  taken  Him  by  force  and  made 
Him  a  king ;  yet  they  affirmed  that  He  sought  to 
subvert  the  throne  of  the  Eoman  Emperor.  By 
these  falsehoods  they  sought  to  build  a  slaughter- 
house for  God's  Son  :  to  bring  His  spotless  lamb 
to  the  knife,  that  they  might  gaze  upon  His 
agonies  and  death.  0  foolish  men  !  their  moral 
abattoir  still  remains,  a  monument  of  their  perfidy ; 
but  their  victim  has  escaped,  and  the  crown  of 
moral  turpitude  with  which  they  sought  to  encircle 
His  head,  for  ever  rests  upon  their  own.  But  why 
this  hatred  of  goodness,  purity,  and  love  ?  Why 
these  savage  efforts  to  crucify  their  king  ?  Why 
this  exposure  of  their  malice,  even  in  the  eyes  of 
a  stranger  and  a  foe  ?  Jesus  had  told  them  the 
truth ;  He  had  exposed  their  hypocrisy,  and 
humbled  their  pride.  This  could  not  be  for- 
given. Light  reached  them  from  heaven ;  but 


192  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

their  deeds  were  evil,  and  the)'  hated  it  because 
it  made  them  manifest.  They  were  not  willing 
to  believe,  because  they  must  forsake  their  sins. 
They  must  cease  to  be  the  heroes  of  the  people, 
and  worship  God.  Yea,  the  despised  Nazarene 
Himself:  rather  than  be  judged  of  God,  they  will 
judge  Him;  rather  than  condemn  themselves, 
they  will  condemn  Him.  And  hence,  oh  hideous 
perversion  of  reason  and  justice  !  these  men, 
clothed  in  sin,  hypocrisy,  and  crime,  will  drag 
God  to  their  bar,  and  declare  that  Goodness  itself 
is  not  fit  to  live!  Ah!  and  how  often  has  the 
Son  of  God  thus  been  made  to  stand  a  trembling 
culprit  before  the  bar  of  human  reason  ;  while 
prejudice  and  pride,  unwilling  to  receive  or  under- 
stand His  words  through  love  of  sin,  have  per- 
verted His  doctrines,  and  declared  that  as  an 
impostor  and  a  knave  He  ought  to  die.  0  reader ! 
take  heed  that  you  emulate  not  the  conduct  of 
these  Jews  ;  and  before  you  pronounce  your 
verdict  on  the  Son  of  God,  see  to  it  that  it  is 
built  upon  truth  and  righteousness,  and  a  fair 
examination  of  his  deeds  and  words.  Should  ye 
be  found,  like  those  of  old,  who  sought  to  brand 
His  name  with  infamy  without  a  cause,  except 
that  which  is  furnished  by  your  own  prejudice, 
ignorance,  and  enmity,  be  assured  of  this,  that 
God  will  one  day  call  you  to  a  terrible  account, 
and  bring  upon  thy  head  a  retribution  as  terrible 
as  it  is  righteous.  God  may  permit  thee  to  go  on 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  193 

for  many  years,  heaping  false  accusations  on  the 
head  of  His  Son ;  but  the  day  will  come  when  He 
will  vindicate  His  holiness  to  thy  everlasting  con- 
fusion. Pause,  then ;  cease  to  revile,  and  let  not 
thy  prejudice  urge  thee  on  to  ruin;  think,  exa- 
mine, pray. 

But  Jesus  was  not  moved  by  the  false  accu- 
sation of  those  who  were  seeking  His  life.  He 
calmly  admitted  what  was  true  ;  He  declared  He 
was  a  King,  though  not  in  the  sense  His  adversa- 
ries affirmed.  He  was  the  faithful  and  true  wit- 
ness, and  would  make  known  the  truth  though  its 
proclamation  cost  Him  His  life.  He  was  prepared 
to  seal  His  testimony  with  His  blood.  The  truth 
with  Him  was  not  a  common  thing ;  it  was  His 
meat  and  His  drink,  His  joy  and  His  crown.  Men 
may  falsety  accuse  Him,  threaten,  persecute,  re- 
vile, and  exhaust  their  ingenuity  to  torture  and 
destroy  Him  ;  but  still  truth  shall  dwell  in  His 
heart,  indite  His  words,  and  shine  in  His  life. 
Mountains  of  sorrow  may  be  cast  upon  His  soul, 
but  they  shall  not  press  error  from  His  lips,  nor 
cause  His  mind  to  embrace  a  lie.  What  an  ex- 
ample to  us  !  May  we  never  be  ashamed  of  the 
truth,  but  in  the  face  of  all  opposition,  cost  us 
what  it  may,  let  us  hold  it  fast,  and  seek  to  make 
it  known !  May  we  think  of  Him  who  has  be- 
queathed it  to  us,  a  precious  legacy  sealed  with 
His  blood,  and  rather  die  than  permit  it  to  be 
plucked  from  our  grasp.  But  let  us  not  forget, 
17 


194  LESSONS  FKOM  JESUS. 

that,  if  thus  we  are  helped  to  cleave  to  Christ,  re- 
proach and  misrepresentation  may  come  upon  us 
even  as  they  did  upon  Him ;  and  let  us  strive  to 
learn  in  patience  to  commit  our  cause  to  God. 


Ilje 

"  And  when  they  had  crucified  him,  they  parted  his  gar- 
ments, casting  lots  upon  them,  what  every  man  shoidd  take."— 
Mark  xv.  24. 

MANY  precious  things  have  been  torn  asunder 
by  the  rude  hand  of  ignorance  and  cruelty,  over 
which  both  science  and  art  have  sorely  wept: 
but  there  are  few  things,  the  destruction  of  which 
has  caused  more  sorrow  to  some,  than  that  of  the 
sacred  vesture  of  the  Son  of  God.  And  yet  it 
was  well  it  should  be  so,  for  many  might  have 
worshipped  the  robe,  who  would  have  despised 
the  wearer  ;  and  such  is  the  spirit  of  Kome.  She 
will  exhibit  the  clothing  of  Christ,  but  not  Christ 
Himself.  She  will  hold  up  the  crown  of  thorns, 
but  not  His  sacred  temples — the  spear  which 
pierced  Him,  but  not  His  bleeding  heart.  Over 
His  garments  she  will  weep,  but  not  over  His  torn 
and  bleeding  body.  It  was  a  crime  with  her  to 
separate  His  robe,  but  none  to  separate  His  words. 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  195 

His  external  man  shall  appear,  but  the  inner  glory 
must  be  veiled.  She  will  make  a  sacred  drama 
of  His  death,  and  seek  to  act  out  the  dread  scene 
afresh  ;  but  the  great  truths  it  embodies  she  nei- 
ther perceives  herself,  nor  will  she  permit  them  to 
be  exhibited  to  others.  0  proud,  pretentious,  but 
ignorant  church  1  like  the  rude  soldiery,  thou  wilt 
receive  the  clothes  of  Christ,  but  deny  His  words ; 
thou  wilt  part  His  garments  among  thy  children, 
but  keep  back  the  truth  by  which  alone  they  can 
be  made  free. 

The  temporal  and  fading,  0  vain  harlot !  thou 
wilt  grasp,  but  the  spiritual  and  enduring  has  no 
value  in  thy  eyes.  To  gaze  upon  the  relics  of  the 
Saviour  thou  wilt  travel  many  miles ;  but  thou 
wilt  not  look  at  Him  as  He  stands  by  thy  side, 
exhibiting  His  glory  to  the  eye  of  faith.  His  gar- 
ments thou  wilt  receive,  seeking  to  make  money 
by  His  apparel,  while  the  doctrines  He  proclaimed 
thou  hearest  but  to  despise.  Oh,  how  many 
follow  thy  example,  and  profess  Christ  for  a  crust, 
while  they  spurn  His  cross,  and  view  His  word 
but  as  the  duplicates  of  pence  !  How  many  cleave 
to  the  outward  form,  to  the  extrinsics  of  a  living 
Christ,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  spiritual  life,  and 
miserably  perish,  grasping  the  mere  symbols 
through  which  it  was  intended  to  flow. 

"  And  the  soldiers  parted  his  garments"  Well, 
Eome  will  weep  over  these  ;  but  let  the  believer 
reserve  his  tears  for  a  divided  church  and  the  fair 


196  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

body  of  truth  so  frequently  torn  and  mangled,  not 
only  by  the  proud  and  unhumbled,  but  by  those 
whose  work  it  is  to  maintain  its  unity  and  strength. 
And  with  our  tears  let  us  blend  our  earnest 
prayer,  that  the  wounds  of  Zion  "may  be  speedily 
healed,  and  soon  before  the  eyes  of  the  world  but 
one  fold  may  appear,  even  as  there  is  but  one 
Shepherd. 

"  And  they  parted  his  garments."  Our  Saviour 
had  not  much  to  leave  ;  how  affectingly  His  po- 
verty appears  at  His  death.  It  was  but  His  gar- 
ments the  soldiers  could  divide :  there  was  nothing 
more.  They  might  have  been  woven  by  the 
fingers  of  love,  but  they  were  all  that  He  had. 
They  had  covered  His  sacred  body  through  many 
a  weary  journey,  but  ttiey  will  not  be  wanted 
again.  And  it  may  be,  believer,  that  thou  hast 
reached  the  end  of  life's  journey,  with  little  else 
than  the  clothes  that  cover  thee.  Thou  hast 
worked  hard,  it  may  be,  but  this  is  all  thou  hast — 
a  scanty  wardrobe  well  soiled  by  many  a  hard 
day's  toil.  A  will  thou  needest  not  make,  for 
thou  hast  nothing  to  leave.  Well,  it  was  so  with 
thy  Lord. 

Thou  art  as  rich  as  He  was,  and  hast  as  much  to 
leave.  He  worked  as  hard  as  thou  hast,  and 
shed  more  tears,  both  by  night  and  day  ;  so  thou 
canst  not  complain,  nor  from  thy  poverty  draw 
an  argument  against  the  love  of  thy  God.  Yea, 
it  is  possible  that  the  garments  the  soldiers  parted 


FOOTSTEPS  OF  LOVE.  197 

were  received  from  the  hand  of  charity  ;  and  so, 
perhaps,  are  thine ;  so  that  thy  poverty  does  but 
furnish  thee,  after  all,  with  another  feature  of  re- 
semblance to  thy  Lord.  But  think  not  of  the 
poor  clothing  which  now  covers  thee,  and  which 
thou  must  soon  leave  behind,  but  of  the  shining 
raiment  thou  art  speedily  to  receive  from  the 
hand  of  Him  who,  though  He  was  rich,  yet  for 
thy  sake  became  poor,  that  we  through  His  po- 
verty might  be  made  rich ;  who  wandered  here 
in  nakedness  and  sorrow,  a  forlorn  outcast,  that 
we  might  reach  a  mansion  of  bliss  and  be  clothed 
in  a  robe  of  righteousness,  by  which  we  should 
be  qualified  for  the  very  presence  of  God,  and  the 
enjoyment  of  His  love  for  ever. 


Snrarp, 


"  And  when  he  had  scourged  Jesus,  he  delivered  him  to  be 
crucified."  —  Matt,  xxvii.  26. 

How  clearly  did  our  Saviour  perceive  every 
element  in  that  bitter  cup  of  suffering  and  sorrow 
which  our  sins  placed  in  His  hands  to  drink  ! 
Long  before  the  whip  tore  and  lacerated  His  back 
He  referred  to  it,  and  said,  "  Behold,  we  go  up  to 
Jerusalem,  and  the  Son  of  man  shall  be  betniveJ 


198  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

unto  the  chief  priests,  and  unto  the  scribes,  and 
they  shall  condemn  him  to  death,  and  shall  de- 
liver him  to  the  Gentiles,  to  rnock,  and  to  scourge, 
and  to  crucify  Him."  And  the  Jews  themselves 
own  to  the  eternal  obloquy  and  shame  which  this 
act  entails,  in  the  following  words  : — u  And  the 
elders  of  Jerusalem  took  Jesus  and  brought  .him 
to  the  city,  and  bound  him  to  a  marble  pillar  in 
the  city,  and  smote  him  with  whips,  or  whipped 
him;  and  said  unto  him,  Where  are  all  thy 
miracles  which  thou  hast  done  ?"  Poor  benighted 
Jew,  how  strangely  didst  thou  forget  the  words 
of  thy  own  prophet  which  declared,  that  thy 
Messiah  should  be  "  a  man  of  sorrows  and  ac- 
quainted with  grief;"  that  "he  should  be  led  as 
a  lamb  to  the  slaughter ;  that  the  chastisement 
of  thy  peace  was  to  be  upon  him,  and  that  by  his 
stripes  thou  wert  to  be  healed."  Ah !  little 
thought  our  Saviour's  tormentors  that  His  weep- 
ing back  proclaimed  their  blindness.  The  Son 
of  God  bound  to  a  marble  pillar ! — whipped ! 
Well  might  the  stone  have  wept  at  such  indig- 
nity, have  blushed  beneath  the  purple  tide  those 
cruel  thongs  drew  forth.  0  wondrous  love! 
which  led  the  Saviour  thus  to  give  His  back  to 
the  smiters,  and  His  cheeks  to  those  who  plucked 
off  the  hair  !  Mark  now,  believer,  and  see  that 
patient  Man,  gored  by  the  savage  whip — He 
shrinks  not,  He  utters  no  murmuring  word :  'tis 
but  the  beginning  of  His  sacred  woe,— there  are 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  199 

wounds  even  now  more  deeply  ploughed  upon 
His  soul,  through  which  the  burning  wrath  of 
God  must  run  to  quench  itself  in  agony  more 
deep.  Yet  not  in  fury  shall  that  tide  flow  forth, 
but  in  righteousness,  to  spare  the  lost.  And  shall 
we  faint  beneath  the  strokes  of  love,  or  fly  the 
chastisement  which  seeks  our  peace  ?  A  scourged 
Saviour  holds  the  rod  the  strokes  of  which  oft 
make  us  droop  our  heads.  He  has  no  pleasure  in 
our  tears,  but  seeks  to  drive  us  from  those  sins 
which  tore  His  flesh  and  gave  him  to  the  hands 
of  cruel  men.  And  let  us  not  forget  that  in  this 
world  the  Saviour  still  is  scourged.  Bound  hand 
and  foot,  He  scarcely  can  be  heard  for  mocking 
tongues.  To  the  cold  marble  column  of  phi- 
losophy, so  called,  oft  found  in  colleges  and 
schools,  Reason  has  often  tied  Him,  while  the 
learned  rabble  and  unbelieving  herd  have  put 
their  thoughts  together  to  form  a  thong  with 
which  to  whip  His  life  away.  One  central  spot 
of  scorn  the  world  has  known  in  every  age — a 
scourged  Saviour.  Still  does  the  cold  critic 
weave  his  words  to  bite  His  flesh,  and  still  it 
seems  to  yield  in  quivering  impotence.  Ah! 
but  the  scourged  Man  one  day  will  show 
His  strength,  nor  yield  His  back  to  infamy  for 
ever ;  and  for  each  subtle  thought  and  lying 
word,  which  brought  a  cord  to  bind  or  scourge 
His  truth,  will  He  bring  men  to  judgment.  And 
thou,  too,  Eespectability  !  that  often  scourged 


200         LESSONS  FEOM  JESUS. 

Him,  by  polite  and  gentle  usage — who  would  have 
His  words  kept  back,  and  thoughts  attenuated  by 
the  rack  of  carnal  policy — even  thou  shalt  one  day 
find  the  hand  of  Christ  too  strong  upon  thee,  and 
the  despised  ISTazarene  shall  reward  thee  according 
to  thy  deeds.  Oh  that  we  may  seek  earnestly  for 
grace,  that  so  neither  by  our  words  nor  deeds  we 
may  be  left  to  scourge  the  Saviour  again,  or  put 
Him  to  an  open  shame  ! 


f  It*  Scarlet  $ofoe. 

"  And  they  stripped  him,  and  put  on  him  a  scarlet  role." — 
Matt,  xxvii.  28. 

THEY  would  make  their  derision  to  be  notorious, 
and  cover  Christ  with  the  most  flagrant  shame. 
To  this  end  they  took  from  Him  what  was  His 
own,  and  gave  to  Him  what  did  not  belong  to  Him. 
And  how  frequently  have  we  done  the  same; 
withholding  from  Him  the  homage  due  to  His 
name,  and  putting  Him  to  shame  by  our  lives.  We 
now  execrate  the  conduct  of  those  who  thus  mock- 
ed the  Son  of  God ;  but  have  we  not  done  worse? 
They  put  upon  Him  a  scarlet  robe:  our  sins  bap- 
tized Him  in  His  blood.  How  naked  would  our 
souls  have  been  had  not  the  body  of  Christ  been 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  201 

thus  clothed  in  the  garb  of  apparent  infamy  and 
death !  He  deserved  not  the  shame  which  they 
would  fain  have  put  upon  Him ;  and  had  He  not 
robed  Himself  in  our  nature  that  He  might  bring 
us  shining  raiment  from  heaven,  the  scarlet  robe 
had  never  been  His.  He  clothed  the  heavens  in 
light  as  a  garment,  the  earth  in  beauty  and  joy, 
and  men's  souls  with  purity  and  righteousness ; 
while  yet,  when  He  appeared  below,  all  that  the 
world  could  afford  Him  was  a  vesture  of  scorn 
and  reproach. 


toton  0f 


"  And  when  they  had  platted  a  crown  of  thorns,  they  put  it 
upon  his  head,  and  a  reed  in  his  right  hand  :  and  they  bowed 
the  knee  be/ore  him,  and  mocked  him,  saying,  Hail,  King  of 
the  Jews!"  —  Matt,  xxvii.  29. 

AND  King  of  the  Jews  He  was,  and  never  more 
glorious  than  now,  notwithstanding  the  scarlet 
robe  and  crown  of  thorns  they  had  placed  upon 
Him.  He  stands  now  before  them  the  King  of 
the  curse,  although  they  perceived  it  not.  It  was 
meet  and  right  that  He  who  was  made  a  curse  for 
us,  who  came  to  absorb  all  its  bitter  elements  in 
Himself,  should  be  crowned  with  thorns.  Well 


202  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

did  they  symbolise  our  sins,  and  the  piercing 
wounds  they  give.  Place  them,  too,  on  His  head, 
and  let  them  form  a  crown,  for  still  He  is  a  King, 
although  despised.  The  thorns,  too,  on  his  brow 
will  blossom  into  bliss,  and  yield  sweet  fruit.  No 
other  way  can  Nature  lose  her  stings.  Oh,  fruit- 
ful soil  of  Jesus'  temples,  that  even  thorns  can 
flourish  there,  and  yield  sweet  honey  to  the  soul ! 
Strange  that  the  Son  of  God  should  be  thus 
crowned ;  but  what  else  could  man  bring,  himself 
a  thorn  ?  Oh,  coronation-day  of  heaven's  own 
King ! — how  poor  this  world  to  yield  Thee  nought 
but  thorns !  It  brought  its  own,  and  Thou  in 
love  didst  take  and  wear  its  scornful  gift,  to  hide 
its  poverty  and  bear  its  griefs  away.  The  curse 
enwrapped  around  thy  sacred  head — Ah,  yes ! 
and  even  from  Thy  feet  it  spread,  but  spread  itself 
to  die,  to  perish ;  for  Thou  shalt  live  and  never 
die.  'Twas  meet  that  they  should  bring  Thee 
thorns  who  made  the  curse.  In  heaven,  0  Lord, 
Thou  hadst  no  thorns;  it  was  from  this  world 
that  Thou  wouldst  pluck  the  chaplet  of  Thy  griefs, 
and  by  the  circle  of  Thy  sorrows  for  ever  rob 
Thy  Church  of  all  her  woes.  Who  ever  saw  so 
fair  a  head,  despite  the  weighty  burden  of  its 
wounds  ?  Thorns,  thorns  ;  ah !  what  but  thorns 
could  clasp  His  temples  in  this  world  where  all 
had  sinned  ?  But  see  they  spring  forth  into  fame, 
and  for  His  thorns  this  King  shall  reign,  and  live 
enthroned  in  wounded  hearts  for  evermore.  All 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  203 

hail,  despised  King!  Thy  crown  shall  flourish 
when  all  others  fade.  Faith  sees  Thy  head  no 
more  in  sorrow  bowed,  but,  far  above  the  clouds 
of  time,  the  thorns  all  gone,  transformed  into  a 
starry  crown  of  bliss,  and  feels  the  hand  of  Mercy 
place  upon  her  head  while  gazing  thus,  a  circlet, 
too,  of  joy,  lined  with  the  costly  ermine  of  a 
Saviour's  love,  and  weeps  and  sings  His  praise 
who  were  a  crown  of  thorns. 

0  wondrous  crown !  each  piercing  thorn  points 
to  Thy  inmost  love,  Thou  Saviour  of  the  lost !  No 
other  head  was  ever  adorned  like  Thine.  The 
sacred  beauty  of  Thy  face  abides,  the  awful  majesty 
of  Thy  kingly  brow  can  suffer  no  eclipse,  though 
weighed  down  by  grief.  ISTo  barbaric  pomp,  nor 
gold,  nor  precious  stones,  could  bring  to  the  sacred 
arches  of  Thy  thought  one  single  ray  of  glory. 
And  where,  too,  are  the  crowned  monarchs  of  the 
earth  ?  The  world  perceives  them  not ;  but,  lo ! 
amid  the  wrecks  of  time,  one  King  appears !  His 
thorny  chaplet  drinks  the  light  of  heaven,  and 
men  of  every  age,  kingdom,  and  tongue  bow  down 
and  worship.  0  marvellous  crown !  divine  su- 
premacy! 0  sacred  head!  that  pillared  up  the 
weight  of  human  guilt,  and  while  it  held  it  up  to 
view  put  it  away.  For  ever  dear  to  us,  then,  be 
this  crown  of  thorns;  and  amid  the  pomp  and 
pageantry  of  life,  the  passing  blaze  of  human 
glory,  oh  may  the  sacred  head  of  Christ  appear  to 
pale  its  fires,  and  may  we  never  forget  those  sacred 


204:  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

griefs  which  bought  our  freedom  from  the  dread- 
ful curse ! 


IOWIUJT, 


"And  he  bearing  his  cross  went  forth  into  a  place  called 
the  place  of  a  skull,  which  is  called  in  the  Hebrew  Golgotha." 
—  John  xix.  17. 

WHAT  a  panorama  of  divine  love  is  the  life  of 
Christ  !  each  scene  becoming  more  touching,  more 
pregnant  with  sorrow,  to  the  closing  one,  present- 
ing us  with  His  death.  Our  Saviour  had  been  a 
cross-bearer  from  his  earliest  youth.  From  the 
first  dawn  of  reason,  His  clear  perception  of  what 
man  was,  and  of  what  He  came  to  do  and  to  bear, 
must  have  placed  a  load  of  sorrow  upon  His  heart, 
such  as  was  never  carried  and  never  could  have 
been  borne  by  any  one  but  himself.  But  now,  in 
addition  to  this  secret  cross  upon  His  weary 
spirit,  there  is  also  another,  placed  by  cruel  men 
upon  His  back.  It  is  not  sufficient  that  His  heart 
labours  with  its  grief  and  the  heavy  hand  of  jus- 
tice pressing  down  His  spirit,  His  body  also  must 
have  its  load;  and  how  affecting  to  the  eye  of 
faith  thus  to  contemplate  him  staggering  on  be- 
neath His  heavy  cross,  lone  and  sad,  in  the  midst 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  205 

of  that  infuriated  throng !  No  hand  of  friendship 
ministers  to  His  woes,  no  voice  of  love  cheers  His 
heart.  His  had  been  a  weary  journey  for  many 
years,  and  His  path  had  grown  more  rugged  as  it 
approached  the  Golgotha  of  His  griefs ;  and  yet 
no  murmuring  word  escaped  Him.  His  was  a 
solitary  path  at  all  times,  but  especially  was  it  so 
now.  The  swelling  tide  of  His  sorrow  is  now 
rising  too  high  for  any  human  being  to  accom- 
pany Him.  A  desert  had  spread  around  Him 
from  His  earliest  days,  but  it  now  grows  more 
bleak  and  bare,  and  it  was  needful  that  it  should 
be  so,  or  our  wilderness  would  never  have  re- 
joiced and  blossomed  as  the  rose.  In  hunger 
and  nakedness,  in  weariness  and  watching,  in 
loneliness  and  desolation,  He  came  to  identify 
Himself  with  His  own.  Of  His  people  of  old  it 
was  recorded,  that  they  "  wandered  in  the  wilder- 
ness in  a  solitary  way;  they  found  no  city  to 
dwell  in ;  hungry  and  thirsty,  their  soul  fainted 
in  them." 

And  with  this  path  many  of  His  children  are 
familiar  now.  Is  it  so  with  thee,  reader  ?  And 
art  thou  ready  to  say,  "  that  thy  way  is  hidden 
from  the  Lord?"  Look  at  thy  Saviour;  mark 
His  weary  steps,  as  He  staggers  on  in  the  midst 
of  cruelty  and  scorn,  faint  and  weary,  beneath  the 
heavy  load  of  thy  guilt.  Think  of  His  love, 
purity,  and  obedience.  Yet  mark  His  path : 
might  not  He  have  concluded  that  truly  He  was 
18 


206  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

forsaken,  and  that  His  God  and  Father  had  for 
gotten  to  be  gracious  ?  Oh,  how  weary  must  He 
have  been  in  heart,  in  head,  in  hands  and  feet ; 
His  back  torn  to  pieces  by  the  whip ;  His  ears 
filled  with  the  cruel  rnockings  of  His  foes;  His 
friends  far  from  Him ;  and  a  horrible  death  be- 
neath the  hidings  of  His  Father's  face  near  at 
hand!  Oh,  what  a"  path  was  His!  Say  now, 
believer,  let  thy  sorrowful  heart  have  full  vent ; 
repeat  thou  all  thy  griefs,  and  try  if  thou  canst 
make  thy  path  like  His.  Is  thy  body  wearied  as 
was  His — thy  hands  and  feet?  Does  thy  heart 
and  head  ache  as  did  His  ?  Is  thy  body  goaded 
and  torn,  and  filled  with  pain  as  was  His  ?  Art 
thou  forsaken  of  thy  friends  as  He  was  ?  Hast 
thou  as  heavy  a  cross  upon  thy  back  ?  Is  thy 
character  slandered  as  was  His?  Are  thy  ears 
as  filled  with  the  yells  of  cruelty,  arid  the  voices 
of  those  who  are  about  to  take  thy  life?  Hast 
thou  the  prospect  of  the  same  death.  Great  as 
may  be  thy  afflictions,  wilt  thou  not  admit,  that 
to  compare  them  with  the  sufferings  of  Christ 
were  sacrilege  indeed?  Thy  path,  it  may  be,  is 
rugged ;  but  in  thy  darkest  night  hast  thou  not 
the  star  of  hope  ? 

Thy  cross  is  heavy ;  but  hast  thou  not  a  mighty 
Saviour  upon  whom  thou  canst  lean,  and  who  in- 
vites thee  ever  to  find  peace  and  rest  in  His  love? 
Hast  thou  not  His  precious  words  to  gird  thee 
with  strength?  and,  however  solitary  thy  path, 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  207 

hast  thou  not  the  promise  of  His  presence,  and 
the  whispers  of  His  love  through  the  sacred 
ministrations  of  His  Divine  Spirit?  Oh,  how 
rich  art  thou  in  all  the  extremities  of  thy  grief 
compared  with  thy  Lord !  Oh  !  lose  not  thy 
peace,  the  quiet  and  rest  of  thy  spirit,  by  looking 
too  much  to  thy  trouble ;  by  fixing  thy  eyes  upon 
the  briars  and  thorns  of  thy  way.  But  let  thy 
faith  stedfastly  eye  Him  who — with  His  chaplet 
of  thorns,  His  bleeding  back,  His  weary  feet,  and 
wounded,  fainting  spirit — still  meekly  and  silently, 
and  without  a  murmuring  word,  amid  blasphemy 
and  contempt,  moved  on  to  the  accomplishment 
of  that  death  by  which  thy  sins  were  to  be  expi- 
ated— thy  soul  redeemed — a  cordial  of  love  pre- 
pared for  all  ihj  sorrows — and  a  right  and  title 
to  a  mansion  of  bliss  and  a  crown  of  glory  which 
fadeth  not  away.  Thus  musing  upon  the  sorrows 
of  Jesus,  thou  shalt  forget  thy  own,  and  receive 
from  Him  that  grace  which  shall  rob  them  of 
their  sting,  and  enable  thee  to  pluck  from  them 
occasions  for  present  and  everlasting  praise. 


208  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 


ij}*  Cruel  §)IB%  • 

e?/  crucified  him"  —  Mark  xv.  25. 

THE  weary  steps  of  Christ  at  length  came  to 
a  pause  ;  but  it  was  at  the  brink  of  the  grave  — 
a  shameful  and  ignominious  death.  At  length, 
through  scenes  of  manifold  temptations,  suffer- 
ings, and  sorrows,  He  has  reached  the  dreadful 
goal  to  which,  with  the  undying  constancy  of 
love,  He  has  pressed  on  from  His  very  birth,  and 
where  He  will  bring  to  a  glorious  consummation 
the  great  work  which  His  Father  gave  him  to  do, 
and  which  was  to  ensure  the  undying  bliss  of  the 
myriads  He  came  to  redeem. 

"  And  there  they  crucified  him"  —  The  meek  and 
lowly  Man  who  permitted  them  to  place  the  cross 
upon  His  back,  permitted  them  also  to  stretch 
His  hands  and  feet  upon  it,  and  with  the  hammer 
and  rugged  nails  to  fix  them  there.  O  myste- 
rious lovei  0  meek  yet  Almighty  Saviour  !  how 
was  it  that  no  ray  of  thy  Godhead  escaped  in  the 
midst  of  such  cruelty,  to  wither  and  to  blast  for 
ever  the  wicked  hands  which  sought  Thy  death  ? 
0  wondrous  love!  which  held  Thy  power  in 
check,  and  kept  Thee  passive  as  a  lamb  beneath 
the  wounds  which  drained  Thy  life  away  !  0 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  209 

holiness!  how  dear  wast  thou  to  the  heart  of 
Jesus!  Rather  than  see  thy  garments  stained  by 
sin,  He  gives  His  blood!  O  justiee!  how  pre- 
cious to  the  Lamb  of  God  wast  thou !  Rather 
than  thou  shouldst  waive  thy  righteous  claims, 
unholy  men  shall  nail  His  body  to  the  tree ;  and 
inch  by  inch  He  will  die;  and  calmly,  slowly, 
'mid  sweat,  and  wounds,  and  blood,  and  darkness, 
and  agonies  unutterable,  and  death,  He  will  pay 
into  thy  hands  the  utmost  which  thy  law  de- 
mands. And  thou,  too,  Mercy,  how  closely  to 
the  heart  of  Jesus  didst  thou  cleave ;  rather  than 
part  with  thee,  His  heart  shall  bleed,  that  with 
the  purple  tide  thy  hand  might  blend  a  balm  to 
heal  the  wounds  of  men. 

"And  there  they  crucified  Him" — To  this  end, 
earth  and  hell  had  watched  Him  from  the  cradle 
to  the  grave.  They  had  hung  upon  His  steps 
like  dogs;  they  had  followed  Him,  and  at  last 
enclosed  Him.  They  came  nearer  and  nearer 
until  they  put  their  savage  hands  upon  Him,  and 
with  yells  of  fury  sought  His  destruction.  It  was 
a  lingering  and  awful  death  Christ  died.  His 
bodily  pains  no  words  can  reach.  He  could  say, 
"  I  am  poured  out  like  water,  and  all  my  bones 
are  out  of  joint;  my  heart  is  like  wax;  it  is 
melted  in  the  midst  of  my  bowels.  My  strength 
is  dried  up  like  a  potsherd ;  and  my  tongue 
cleaveth  to  my  jaws;  and  thou  hast  brought  me 
into  the  dust  of  death."  Through  His  great  pain 
18* 


210  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

and  anguish  of  mind,  a  burning  fever  seized  upon 
Him,  and  made  Him  exclaim,  I  "thirst!'7  This 
speedily  robbed  Him  of  His  strength  and  His 
flesh,  so  that  casting  a  sorrowful  look  upon  His 
emaciated  body,  He  exclaimed,  "I  may  tell  all 
my  bones :  they  look  and  stare  upon  me !"  Well 
might  He  exclaim  to  His  God,  "  But  be  not  thou 
far  from  me,  0  Lord :  0,  my  strength,  haste  thee 
to  help  me  I" 

But,  after  all,  the  pains  of  our  Redeemer  were 
not  mere  bodily  pains.  There  was  a  cross  upon 
which  the  mind  was  stretched  as  well  as  the 
body.  The  sensibilities  of  His  body  were  great; 
but  those  of  His  soul  were  greater.  To  what 
extent  the  soul  of  man  is  capacitated  for  suffer- 
ing, is  a  dread  secret  never  fully  realized  in  this 
world;  though  sometimes,  from  the  trouble  and 
anguish  produced  when  but  a  few  drops  of  Di- 
vine wrath  fall  upon  it,  we  may  form  some  little 
idea.  In  this  respect,  all  the  powers  of  Christ's 
soul  were  peculiarly  sensitive ;  and,  upheld  and 
supported  by  His  Divine  nature,  no  doubt  they 
could,  and  did,  drink  in  an  amount  of  anguish 
beyond  all  human  or  angelic  comprehension. 
The  hand  of  God,  as  a  righteous  judge,  brought 
all  the  elements  of  the  penalty  attached  to  sin 
into  His  experience ;  and  in  suffering  and  sorrow 
He  exhausted  them  all.  And  He  could  exhaust 
them ;  for,  while  His  nature  was  finite,  it  was  no 
less  infinite.  To  what  extent  the  soul  can  suffer, 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE*  211 

who  can  say  ?  but  as  united  to  the  Divine  nature, 
who  will  dare  to  declare  ?  From  the  mouth  of 
His  servant  David  we  learn  that  He  sank  in  deep 
waters  where  there  was  no  standing ;  that  the 
wrath  of  God  lay  hard  upon  Him;  "and  thou," 
said  He,  "hast  afflicted  me  with  all  thy  waves}'1 
Both  the  superior  and  inferior  natures  were  both 
engaged  in  that  last  terrible  conflict  of  the  Ke- 
deemer,  by  which  the  sins  of  His  people  were  at 
once  and  for  ever  expiated,  and  the  power  of  hell 
overthrown.  Let  us  ever  approach  the  conflict 
with  holy  awe.  Let  us  ever  gaze  with  love  and 
reverence  upon  those  sorrows  by  which  our  griefs 
are  healed ;  and  may  the  simple  statements  of  the 
Word  of  God  ever  be  the  resting-place  of  our 
faith.  He  who  has  felt  but  a  little  of  the  terrors 
of  God's  law,  and  of  the  hidings  of  God's  face, 
will  ever  look  with  profound  reverence  upon  the 
travail  of  His  soul,  who  stood  solitary  and  alone 
in  the  midst  of  penal  darkness,  to  endure  in  body 
and  soul  the  utmost  penalty  of  that  holy  law 
which  has  righteously  consigned  myriads  to  a  re- 
tribution which  stretches  itself  through  the  count- 
less ages  which  are  past,  and  into  countless  ages 
which  are  yet  to  corne. 

But  why  must  Jesus  die?  His  death  was  a 
matter  of  Divine  purpose.  Long  before  He  came 
into  this  world,  He  had  declared  by  the  mouth  of 
the  inspired  Psalmist,  "  A  body  hast  thou  prepared 
me.  In  the  volume  of  the  book  it  is  written  of  me, 


212  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  yea,  thy  law  is  within  my 
heart."  The  Divine  Father  perceiving,  from  the 
most  distant  ages  of  eternity,  how  all  His  creatures 
would  sin  arid  break  His  law,  thus  exposing 
themselves  to  its  penalty,  determined  to  spoil  the 
designs  of  Satan,  and  to  save  a  number  which  no 
man  can  number,  by  sending  His  Son  to  bear  the 
punishment  due  to  their  sins.  Jesus  also  volun- 
tarily became  the  surety  of  those  whom  the 
Father  purposed  to  save ;  and  hence,  speaking  to 
His  Father,  in  His  intercessory  prayer,  He  says, 
"  Thine  they  were,  and  thou  gavest  them  to  me." 
It  being,  therefore,  a  matter  of  Divine  purpose, 
that  the  people  of  God  should  be  saved  by  the 
substitution  and  vicarious  death  of  the  Son  of 
God,  the  Divine  mystery  was  set  forth  in  t^he  pro- 
phetic page.  The  prophets  were  employed  by 
the  Spirit  of  God  to  portray  the  glory  of  that 
Saviour,  who  was  to  come,  "a  light  to  lighten 
the  Gentiles,  and  the  glory  of  His  people  Israel." 
A  suffering  Saviour  was  the  centre  object  of  all 
their  representations;  and  hence,  Jesus  must  die 
in  fulfilment  of  the  word. 

The  attributes  of  God  also  demanded  it.  The 
people  of  God  had  by  their  own  sins,  in  common 
with  others,  exposed  themselves  to  the  penalty 
of  the  law,  that  penalty  being  righteous  ;  and  that 
the  justice  of  God  might  not  become  a  common 
thing  in  the  universe,  it  must  have  been  endured 
by  them  or  some  one  else.  Christ  came  to  bear 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  213 

it,  and  did  bear  it,  so  that  the  sinner  can  escape 
while  yet  righteousness  is  exalted,  both  in  God 
and  in  the  sinner's  heart.  In  God,  inasmuch  as 
He  receives,  at  the  hands  of  Christ,  a  satisfaction 
for  sin  which  no  creature  could  have  given  ;  while 
the  sinner,  perceiving  the  inflexibility  of  law  in 
the  sufferings  of  Christ,  learns  to  revere  the  jus- 
tice of  God,  while  He  exults  in  the  love  which 
provides  a  ransom  for  his  soul.  On  these  grounds 
we  have  the  recorded  fact  of  our  Saviour's  death. 
No  finite  hand  could  have  touched  Him,  but  for 
the  fulfilment  of  these  gracious  designs. 

"And  they  crucified  Him.'1'' — An  awful  blot  is 
this  upon  the  page  of  the  world's  history,  an  ever- 
lasting stain  upon  its  pride;  and  well  for  thee, 
my  soul,  that  thou  shouldst  cease  to  embrace  a 
world,  whose  archives  are  thus  defiled.  Yet,  in 
this  fact,  our  hope  of  pardon,  and  peace,  and 
purity,  and  heaven,  has  its  birth.  And  hence 
the  Christian  must  ever  love  to  contemplate  the 
crucified  One.  Jesus  on  the  cross,  the  cross  of 
Christ,  a  theme  for  present  and  for  future  bliss. 
The  spot  most  sacred  to  the  renewed  heart.  The 
home  where  all  the  Christian  graces  dwell  and 
thrive.  The  meeting  place  of  God  and  man. 
The  mirror  of  God's  love.  The  apocalypse  of 
all  His  perfections,  united  in  the  most  sweet  and 
exalted  harmony  for  the  salvation  of  men.  The 
point  where  all  the  rays  of  truth  most  brilliantly 
converge  to  show  how  sin  can  be  put  away,  the 


214  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

soul  be  renewed,  and  more  than  paradise  be  re- 
gained. Here  God's  most  sacred  thoughts  and 
choicest  forms  of  wisdom  show  themselves  to 
instruct  and  bless  mankind.  To  this  point,  the 
returning  wanderer  turns  his  eye,  and  here  the 
weary  heart  finds  rest.  Here  all  heaven's  richest 
blessings  grow  in  clusters,  and  Omnipotence 
reaches  forth  its  hand,  through  frailty,  to  save 
and  elevate  the  lost. 

In  the  wounds  of  Jesus  faith  discovers  the 
honey  of  God's  love,  and  learns  a  secret  hidden 
from  the  wise.  The  dove  of  peace  dwells  here, 
perpetually  shedding,  from  its  outstretched  wings, 
the  dew  of  heaven  to  fertilize  the  barren  mind. 
Here  Mercy  gathers  all  her  children  to  heal  their 
wounds,  to  teach  them  the  lessons  of -eternal  love, 
as  they  are  written  on  the  broken  body  of  her 
bleeding  Lord ;  and  the  first  notes  of  that  ever- 
lasting hymn  the  redeemed  shall  sing  for  ever- 
more. Here  death,  too,  loses  its  sting,  and  hell 
its  prey.  Here  to  the  eye  of  faith  light  breaks 
forth  brighter  than  the  sun,  with  healing  on  its 
wings :  a  light  which  pales  all  human  glory,  and 
spreads  and  flies,  and  flies  and  spreads,  until  the 
entire  universe,  bathed  in  heaven's  own  beauty, 
reflects  the  praise  of  God.  0  Cross  of  Christ! 
the  sun,  the  moon,  and  stars,  the  flowers,  the 
trees,  the  fields,  in  one  perpetual  hymn  tell  much 
— but  thou,  infinitely  more!  No  other  world 
has  known  thy  charms ;  grasped  by  the  hand  of 


FOOTSTEPS   OF   LOVE.  215 

Love,  thou  touchest  this,  and  dost  transmute  its 
base  alloy  to  gold.  The  pall  of  sorrow  death  has 
thrown  upon  it :  as  it  sighs  and  moans  along  its 
silent  way,  a  gloomy  sepulchre,  thou  dost  remove, 
and  clothe  it  in  the  garments  of  perpetual  joy, 
the  bridal  raiment  of  a  king.  The  dark  enigmas 
reason  cannot  solve,  thou  makest  plain.  The  long 
sad  night  of  sorrow  at  thy  presence  leaves  the 
earth,  which,  now  transformed  like  some  pellucid 
sea,  so  brightly  shines,  that  angels,  as  thejr  fly, 
look  down  and  see  themselves  reflected  from 
beneath,  and  gaze  upon  the  very  smile  of  God. 
The  church  through  thee  shall  wear  a  beauty 
which  shall  never  die;  and  nature,  too,  shall 
hear  the  voice  of  God,  and  hearing  shall  obey, 
and  learn  the  mighty  meaning  of  those  words, 
"  Behold,  I  make  all  things  new." 

Sad  day,  then,  for  this  world,  when  men  by 
misty  statements  hide  the  cross — the  Church's 
hope,  and  burden  of  her  bliss;  the  perennial 
fountain  of  her  joy,  her  purity,  and  peace.  Dark 
is  the  night  that  soon  will  overshadow  us ;  the 
sweet  dove  of  peace  will  soon  withdraw,  and  uni- 
versal discord  reign.  Let  but  the  tidings  of  a 
Saviour's  death  cease  to  be  proclaimed,  and  uni- 
versal death  will  speedily  seize  us  all.  Let  His 
broken  body  be  but  entombed  in  human  specula- 
tions, or  philosophic  pride,  and  soon  the  melting, 
fertilizing  rays  of  heaven's  own  sun  will  cease  to 
shine,  and  moral  desolation  spread  on  all  around; 


216  LESSONS   FKOM   JESUS. 

the  barren  winter  of  worldliness,  selfishness^  and 
pride  will  reign ;  the  arid  sands  of  human  specu- 
lation encompass  all — a  dreary  waste  over  which 
the  aching  eye  seeks  often  for  the  footsteps  of 
eternal  love,  but  finds  them  not ;  and  where  the 
weary,  thirsty  heart  cries  out  in  vain  for  the  liv- 
ing waters  of  revealed  truth,  and  in  despair  at 
last  lies  down  to  die. 

Oh,  then,  my  soul,  dwell  near  the  cross ;  and 
while  others  wander  over  the  classic  page,  or  seek 
an  hiding-place  beneath  the  spreading  branches  of 
scholastic  lore,  or  art,  or  taste,  make  this  thy  joy! 
View  every  form  of  truth  and  beauty  as  thy  friend ; 
but  let  the  cross  of  Jesus  be  thy  home ;  here  dwell, 
thou  sublimely  lost,  yet  truly  found ;  and  let  the 
truths  which  grow  and  cluster  here,  be  ever  to  thee 
the  sweet,  the  sacred  ambrosia  of  thy  soul,  and 
live  to  make  them  known. 

Beader,  come  to  the  cross — the  culminating 
point  of  this  world's  sorrows,  it  is  true  ;  still,  if 
thou  wilt  but  come,  it  shall  not  be  to  thee  a 
gloomy  place.  Here  thou  shalt  find  happiness 
like  a  star  upon  the  brow  of  night ;  and  while 
gazing  upon  the  death  of  Jesus,  the  bloom  and 
freshness  of  immortal  youth  shall  come  upon  thee. 
From  His  precious  blood  thy  faith  shall  fetch  in 
pardon  for  all  thy  sins,  and  gather  honey  from 
the  flower  of  hope,  which  blossoms  here,  and 
never  fades.  The  holy  fragrance  of  Almighty 
love  will  steep  thy  heart  in  bliss.  Here  the  Spirit 


FOOTSTEPS   OF  LOVE.  217 

of  God  will  meet  with  thee,  and  claim  affinity 
again  with  thy  spirit,  and  dwell  with  thee  a  foun- 
tain of  wisdom  and  perpetual  peace.  Here  all 
thy  powers  shall  be  harmonised,  and  thy  self-will 
shall  be  slain  ; — 

"  The  life-long  bleeding  of  the  heart  be  o'er." 

For  it  shall  beat  responsive  to  God's  love,  and  thy 
will  shall  move  in  accordance  with  the  eternal  law 
of  happiness  and  peace.  Wrong  not,  then,  thy 
spirit,  reader,  of  its  balm  and  rest.  Come  to 
love's  sanctuary  for  the  weary.  Consent  thou  to 
be  blessed.  Let  thy  soul  become  the  temple  of 
Jesus,  thy  heart  His  throne,  then  shall  thy  life 
become  a  book  of  wonders ;  thy  lips  an  oracle 
of  truth ;  thy  tongue  an  instrument  whose  melody 
heaven  shall  approve ;  thy  intellect  the  palace  of 
its  king  ;  while  thy  memory  shall  be  inlaid  with 
the  most  costly  tokens  of  God's  love ;  and,  thus 
beautified  and  blessed,  thou  shalt  embody  and 
exhibit  diviner  mysteries,  and  more  of  God  than 
all  the  universe  besides,  and  commence  a  jubilee 
of  joy  and  never-ending  praise. 

"  Him  on  yonder  cross  I  love, 

Nought  on  earth  I  else  count  dear. 

May  He  mine  for  ever  prove 
Who  is  now  so  inly  near. 

Here  I  stand ;  whate'er  may  come, 

Days  of  sunshine  or  of  gloom, 

From  this  word  I  will  not  move ; 

Him  upon  the  cross  I  love  1 

19 


218  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

'Tis  not  hidden  from  my  heart, 
What  true  love  must  often  bring; 

Want  and  grief  have  sorest  smart, 
Care  and  scorn  can  sharply  sting. 

Nay,  but  if  Thy  will  were  such, 

Bitterest  death  were  not  too  much. 

Dark  though  here  my  course  may  prove, 

Him  upon  the  cross  I  love! 

Rather  sorrows  such  as  these, 

Rather  love's  acutest  pain, 
Than  without  Him  days  of  ease, 

Riches  false  and  honours  vain. 
Count  me  strange  when  I  am  true, 
What  He  hates  I  will  not  do ; 
Sneers  no  more  ray  heart  can  move  ; 
Him  upon  the  cross  I  love  ! 

Know  ye  whence  my  strength  is  drawn, 
Fearless  thus  the  fight  to  wage  ? 

Why  my  heart  can  laugh  to  scorn 
Fleshly  weakness,  Satan's  rage  ? 

'Tis,  I  know  the  love  of  Christ ; 

Mighty  is  that  love  unpriced. 

What  can  grieve  me,  what  can  move  ? 

Him  upon  the  cross  I  love ! 

Once  the  eyes  that  now  are  dim 

Shall  discern  the  changeless  love, 
That  hath  led  us  home  to  Him, 

That  hath  crown'd  us  far  above. 
Would  to  God  that  all  below 
What  that  love  is  now  might  know, 
And  their  hearts  this  word  approve : 
Him  upon  the  cross  I  love  I" 

GREDING.    (Born  1676.) 
Lyra  Germanica. 


"  To  God's  blessing  upon  the  bold  and  faithful  assertion  of 
such  noble  truths  as  election,  justification,  sanctification,  and 
perseverance,  we  owe  our  reformation  from  Popery.  So  nothing 
will  finally  preserve  us  from  being  carried  captive  into  the 
Popish  Egypt  again,  but  the  revival-  and  preaching  of  those 
same  noble  truths." — LUTHER. 

"  Each  day  brings  its  trials ;  but  their  bitterness  passes  away, 
while  the  sweetness  of  its  blessings  remains,  like  the  rose  scent 
in  the  vase.  The  unnumbered  kindnesses  of  God,  the  countless 
small  pleasures  which  mark  His  unslumbering  thoughtfulness  for 
us,  are  like  bright  ears  of  corn  scattered  along  our  path  to  tell 
us  of  the  golden  harvest-field  from  whence  they  come,  and 
towards  which  we  are  journeying ;  crystal  drops  from  the  river 
of  life,  which  maketh  glad  the  city  of  God.  Such  things  cheer 
us  on  in  this  earth,  but  should  not  bind  us  to  it ;  rather  should 
they  send  us  onward  with  joyfulness,  eager  for  the  bliss  that 
God  has  prepared  for  us  on  high,  and  longing  for  those  pleasures 
which  are  at  his  right  hand  for  evermore." 

Man's  best  thoughts  in  times  of  trial  are  often  found  to  be  but 
broken  cisterns,  which  refuse  a  single  drop  of  consolation  to  the 
weary  soul;  but  God's  thoughts,  like  wells  fed  by  a  living  spring, 
perpetually  give  forth  the  enlivening  and  refreshing  streams  of 
spiritual  peace  and  joy. 

"We  cannot  expect  spiritual  thoughts  and  affections  from 
truths  which  are  but  imperfectly  understood,  or  doubtfully  and 
feebly  believed." — J.  A.  JAMES,  of  Birmingham. 


Sttclto  of  jSalbatioii; 

OB, 

THE   JOY   OF   THE   CHURCH. 


"  Therefore  with  joy  shall  ye  draw  water  out  of  the  wells  of 
salvation" — Isa.  xii.  3. 

THE  seraphic  prophet  commences  his  sweet  gospel 
sonnet  by  directing  the  attention  to  a  certain  day 
— a  period  of  time — "in  that  day,"  he  says;  "  a 
glorious  day  is  this,  the  light  and  splendour  of 
which  shall  never  decline,  for  Christ  is  its  sun,  a 
sun  that  shall  never  set,  but  continue  to  throw 
forth  its  light  and  beauty  through  the  countless 
ages  of  eternity."  And  in  connexion  with  this 
divine  period  the  prophet  also  brings  before  us 
the  employment  of  the  redeemed — u  In  that  day 
thou  shalt  say,  0  Lord,  I  will  praise  Thee,"  &c. 

The  people,  it  seems,  shall  talk;  and  what  is 

easier  than  to  use  the  tongue  ?    But  they  shall  use 

theirs  to  a  good  purpose :  in  their  case  it  shall  be 

their  glory,  and   not  their  shame;    grace  shall 

19* 


222  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

teach  their  hearts  and  make  their  lips  discourse 
sweet  music ;  they  shall  talk  well,  for  they  shall 
be  instructed ;  they  shall  not  be  left  to  say  any- 
thing, or  desire  to  speak  at  random ;  God's  deeds 
and  not  their  own  shall  form  their  theme ;  they 
shall  give  utterance  to  His  thoughts,  and  not  their 
own  ;  they  shall  praise  Him,  and  not  themselves; 
His  mercy  shall  be  the  key-note  of  their  song, 
and  they  shall  lead  off  every  strain  which  arises 
from  this  sin-stricken  world,  having  for  its  object, 
"Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace, 
good  will  towards  men." 

Their  song  shall  be  constant;  there  shall  be  the 
ringing  forth  of  an  everlasting  chime  through  every 
age ;  amid  the  chaos  of  strange  sounds,  the  storm 
music  of  this  lower  world,  the  spiritually-educated 
ear  shall  detect  it,  as  the  soft,  sweet,  melodious 
theme  which  ever  pervades  it,  giving  meaning  to 
its  discords,  rising  and  falling,  but  never  entirely 
lost. 

The  various  phases  of  human  thought  ebb  and 
flow,  different  systems  of  philosophy  rise  and  fall, 
but  in  the  midst  of  the  ever-floating  and  shifting 
debris  of  sentiment  and  feeling,  God's  thoughts 
shall  continue.  God  has  determined  that  they 
shall  live  in  men's  hearts,  and  find  an  intelligent 
utterance  in  their  lives.  Generation  after  gene- 
ration comes  and  goes,  but  in  the  midst  of  each 
God  ever  places  His  sweet  singers  to  give  the  key- 
notes to  the  coming  ages  of  all  that  is  truly  good 


WELLS  OF  SALVATION.  223 

and  great.  It  is  a  simple  and  sublime  song  which 
the  redeemed  ever  sing,  for  it  is  not  built  upon  the 
theories  of  men,  the  wild  vagaries  of  theological 
dreamers,  the  empty  conceits  of  doctors  of  divinity, 
the  semi-rationalistic  teaching  of  initiative  theolo- 
gians, but  upon  the  eternal  and  immutable  WORD 
OF  GOD  ;  the  truth  as  realised  in  their  own  living 
experience,  and  the  great  things  which  God  has 
done  for  their  salvation.  And  hence,  notwith- 
standing the  contempt  and  scorn  with  which  these 
simple  and  illiterate  songsters  are  frequently 
treated  by  the  wise  and  prudent  in  their  own 
eyes,  they  continue  to  live,  and  to  give  utterance 
to  thoughts  which  shall  live  and  burn,  and  con- 
tinue to  cheer  and  guide  the  living  host  of  God's 
elect  over  the  barren  sands  of  this  wilderness,  and 
upwards  and  onwards  far  above  the  clouds  of 
human  speculation  to  the  very  throne  of  God  and 
the  Lamb. 

The  prophet  having  referred  to  a  period,  and 
declared  what  the  redeemed  should  say,  and  the 
holy  and  divine  assurance  which  should  mark 
their  speech,  next  proceeds  to  make  known  what 
they  should  do,  and  says,  "  Therefore  with  joy 
shall  ye  draw  water  out  of  the  wells  of  salvation." 
We  will  notice  these  wells,  and  the  employment 
of  the  people  of  God  in  connexion  therewith. 

The  wells  of  salvation. — It  is  said,  that  while  the 
French  engineers  were  boring  for  water  in  the 
African  desert,  the  Arabs  looked  on  in  silent  won- 


224:  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

der,  until  they  saw  the  precious  stream  actually 
gushing  forth,  and  then  their  joy  knew  no  bounds ; 
and  sweet  and  precious  as  the  cooling  waters  are 
now  to  the  weary,  labouring  child  of  the  desert, 
so  precious  were  they  to  the  people  to  whom  the 
words  of  the  prophet  were  originally  addressed ; 
and  the  promise  to  them  of  an  indefinite  supply 
of  that  element  which  is  so  essential  to  natural 
life,  would  be  highly  appreciated  by  them,  and 
well  calculated  to  inspire  their  gratitude  and  joy. 
But  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  these  words  refer 
to  the  mind  more  than  the  body,  and  to  spiritual 
rather  than  natural  life.  And  we  have  here  a  pro- 
mise to  the  people  of  God,  that  for  them  there 
shall  ever  be  mediums  of  divine  deliverance  and 
spiritual  refreshment  in  the  desert  of  time,  until 
the  gospel  day  shall  lose  itself  in  the  brightness 
and  beauty  of  eternity's  morning. 

We  may  apply  the  figure  to  the  persons  of 
Deity.  In  the  Scriptures,  God  the  Father  is  ever 
brought  before  us  as  the  great  original  spring- 
head, and  source  of  salvation  to  His  people :  and 
hence  we  find  Him  reproving  them  for  "forsaking 
Him,  the  fountain  of  living  waters,  to  hew  out  to 
themselves  broken  cisterns  which  could  hold  no 
water." 

God  the  Son  also  may  be  viewed  as  a  well  of 
salvation.  "If  any  man  thirst/'  said  He,  "let 
him  come  unto  me,  and  drink;"  and  on  another 
occasion,  "  Whosoever  shall  drink  of  the  water 


WELLS  OF   SALVATION.  225 

which  I  shall  give  him  shall  never  thirst;  but 
the  water  that  I  shall  give  him  shall  be  in  him,  a 
well  of  water  springing  up  into  everlasting  life;" 
while  the  Holy  Spirit  is  represented  by  the  same 
divine  Teacher,  as  being  the  medium  through 
which  these  living  waters  flow;  "for,"  says  the 
inspired  apostle,  "the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  in 
meat  nor  drink,  but  righteousness  and  peace  and 
joy  in  the  holy  Ghost." 

The  doctrines  of  divine  grace  may  also  be 
viewed  as  so  many  wells  of  salvation  to  the  soul, 
for  "Ye  shall  know  the  truth,"  said  our  Saviour, 
"  and  the  truth  shall  make  you  free,"  and  "  Sanc- 
tify them  by  thy  truth ;  thy  word  is  truth." 

1.  A  covenant  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure. — 
This  eternal  and  immutable  covenant,  which  has 
for  its  object  the  salvation  of  all  God's  people,  has 
been  a  source  of  strong  consolation  to  the  spiritu- 
ally-educated but  afflicted  pilgrims  of  Zion  in 
every  age,  and  hence  such  have  been  wont  to  say, 
"that  it  is  all  their  salvation  and  all  their  desire." 
Some  Christians  cannot  see  this  covenant  as  re- 
vealed of  God ;  the  New  Testament,  is,  however, 
but  an  amplification  of  it  in  so  many  words ;  and 
as  a  book  exists  in  the  mind  of  an  author  before 
it  has  a  visible  incarnation  through  the  medium 
of  ink  and  paper,  so  the  covenant  of  grace  existed 
in  the  mind  and  purpose  of  God  long  before  it 
had  an  intelligent  expression  in  the  language  of 
men  upon  the  sacred  page. 


226  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

2.  Electing  love. — This  is  a  deep  well,  bringing 
its  sweet  waters  from  the  very  depths  of  eternity. 
True  it  is,  some  either  through  ignorance  or  pre- 
judice, refuse  to  drink  at  this  well ;  but  oh,  with 
what  joy  did   the  Apostle  drink  of  its  waters ! 
"Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  who  hath  blessed  us  with  all  spiritual 
blessings  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ,  according 
as  He  hath  chosen  us  in  him  before  the  foundation 
of  the  world,  that  we  should  be  holy  and  without 
blame  before  Him  in  love."    Those  who  are  indif- 
ferent to  religion,  ought  not  to  be  offended  by 
that  which  they  practically  declare  does  not  con- 
cern them,  and  of  which  they  can  have  no  com- 
petent knowlege ;  while  surely  it  should  give  no 
offence  to  those  who  love  Jesus  to  be  told,  that 
their  love  to  Him  declares  them  to  be  the  especial 
objects  of  His  eternal  and  peculiar  love. 

3.  Particular  redemption. — This  is  a  well,  the 
flow  of  whose  deep  and  crimsoned  waters  removes 
all  obstructions  from  the  path  of  divine  mercy,  as 
she  comes  forth  to  the  help  and  succour  of  the 
wretched  and  lost.     By  the  side  of  this  well  the 
redeemed  have  been  wont  to  si^  in  every  age,  to 
muse  upon  the  love  of  God,  while  the  wonders  it 
has  accomplished  ever  form  the  theme  of  their 
most  sweet  and  exalted  song. 

4.  Divine  calling. — Through  this  well  the  water 
of  divine  grace  first  flows  into  the  soul.     "  And 
in  that  day  shall  the  deaf  hear  the  words  of  the 


WELLS   OF  SALVATION.  227 

book,  and  the  eyes  of  the  blind  shall  see  out  of 
obscurity,  and  out  of  darkness."  "  Who  hath 
saved  us,'7  says  the  Apostle,  "  and  called  us  with 
an  holy  calling,  not  according  to  our  works,  but 
according  to  His  own  purpose  and  grace,  which 
was  given  us  in  Christ  Jesus  before  the  world 
began." 

Pardon. — This  is  a  well  much  frequented  by  the 
guilty  in  quest  of  mercy ;  and  oh !  how  sweet  are 
its  waters  to  the  soul  when  all  but  fainting  beneath 
the  burning  heat  of  divine  displeasure  and  the 
burden  of  sin ! 

Justification. — This  well  ever  yields  a  rich  and 
constant  supply  of  the  deep  waters  of  peace ; 
"Being  justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with 
God." 

Sanctification. — "To  be  carnally  minded  is  death : 
to  be  spiritually  minded  is  life  and  peace."  The 
most  corrupt  and  depraved  are  cleansed  by  the 
waters  of  this  well. 

Perseverance. — u  I  give  unto  them  eternal  life, 
and  they  shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any 
pluck  them  out  of  my  hand."  Oh !  how  many  of 
the  sheep  of  mercy's  pasture  would  have  perished 
but  for  this  well !  how  frequently  has  its  reviving 
streams  restored  their  drooping  faith !  "  He  re- 
storeth  my  soul." 

Glorification. — This  may  be  spoken  of  as  a  well 
of  delight  to  the  earnest  pilgrim,  especially  when 
the  wilderness  is  cold  and  bleak,  and  yields  no 


228  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

green  thing  to  refresh  the  eye ;  its  ever-flowing 
waters  frequently  make  a  paradise  in  the  soul. 
Sitting  by  its  side,  the  weary  spirit  gathers 
strength,  the  sad  heart  loses  the  burden  of  its  sor- 
rows, while  faith  wipes  the  tear  from  the  eye,  and 
points  to  the  land  of  the  blest. 

The  precious  and  adapted  promises  of  the  Gospel, 
also,  may  be  viewed  as  so  many  wells  of  salvation 
to  the  soul ;  and,  however  barren  and  desolate  the 
path  of  the  travelling  church,  it  is  ever  fringed 
with  these  wells,  whose  waters  fail  not ;  although, 
like  Hagar  of  old,  she  frequently  perceives  them 
not  until  God  opens  her  eyes.  And  hence  it  is 
written,  "  The  wilderness  and  solitary  place  shall 
be  glad  for  them ;  and  the  desert  shall  rejoice  and 
blossom  as  the  rose."  Wherever  the  redeemed  go, 
the  river-tide  of  Divine  mercy  follows  them,  ever 
singing  as  it  flows,  to  bless  them  and  make  them 
blessings.  The  promises  of  God  never  spread 
themselves  before  the  eye  of  faith  as  a  deceitful 
mirage,  but  as  a  sea  of  love  from  which  the  waters 
of  peace  ever  flow. 

The  precepts  of  Christ,  also,  are  frequently 
proved  to  be  so  many  wells  of  salvation  to  the  real 
Christian.  Hence  said  the  Psalmist,  "  I  will  not  for- 
get thy  precepts,  for  by  them  thou  hast  quickened 
me;"  and,  "by  the  words  of  thy  mouth  have  I 
kept  myself  from  the  paths  of  the  destroyer." 

All  the  relative  names  and  offices  of  Christ  are 
so  many  wells  of  salvation.  Oh,  how  precious  to 


WELLS   OF   SALVATION.  229 

those  who  know  and  love  Him !  The  ordinances 
of  God's  house,  when  filled  with  His  blessing,  are 
also  wells  of  salvation  to  those  who  are  seeking 
the  favour  of  the  Most  High.  The  Lord  was  with 
His  disciples  of  old  in  the  breaking  of  bread  and 
prayer;  and  it  was  when  baptized  in  the  river 
Jordan,  that  the  dove  of  peace  descended  upon  the 
head  of  Christ,  and  the  voice  of  His  Father  was 
heard,  saying,  "  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom 
I  am  well  pleased :  hear  ye  him." 

Nor  should  we  forget  that  by  the  ordinance  of 
secret  prayer,  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  have 
frequently  opened  a  well  in  the  wilderness :  "  who 
passing  through  the  Valley  of  Baca,  make  it  a 
well."  It  is  this  mysterious,  this  prevalent  power 
of  faith  in  the  believer,  which  converts  this  wilder- 
ness into  an  Eden  of  fruitfulness  and  joy,  and 
opens  a  river  of  life  and  peace  from  the  bleak  and 
barren  rock  of  affliction,  poverty,  and  death.  Of 
the  wells  of  salvation,  the  believer,  therefore,  may, 
ever  in  faith  and  in  prayer,  earnestly  and  constant- 
ly exclaim,  "  Spring  up,  0  well !  "  for  from  these 
wells  are  destined  to  flow  forth  those  streams  which 
shall  ultimately  gird  the  entire  universe  with  fer- 
tility and  joy. 

But  these  wells  are  to  afford  employment  to 
the  redeemed:  "With,  joy  shall  ye  draw  water 
out  of  the  wells  of  salvation."  Through  the  me- 
diums mentioned,  the  people  of  God  are  to  receive 
the  water  of  Divine  grace,  life,  and  peace ;  they 
20 


230  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

are  to  draw  water.  If  asked,  how  ? — by  using  the 
means  God  has  appointed — the  ordinances  of  God's 
house,  secret  and  public  prayer;  but  above  all, 
by  believing :  faith  is  the  simple  and  sublime  in- 
strumentality by  which  the  Christian  drinks  of 
those  streams  which  make  glad  the  city  of  God. 
"  He  that  believeth  on  me,  out  of  his  belly  shall 
flow  rivers  of  living  water." 

And  for  what  purpose  shall  the  redeemed  draw 
these  waters  ?  For  their  own  encouragement,  con- 
solation, strength,  and  fruitfulness ;  and  also  for 
the  benefit  of  others;  for  uno  man  liveth  to  him- 
self," saith  the  Apostle,  "and  no  man  dieth  to 
himself;  but  whether  we  live  or  die,  we  are  the 
Lord's."  Oh,  how  frequently  do  believers  seek 
earnestly  a  blessing  for  others,  when  their  sense 
of  personal  un  worthiness  seems  all  but  to  preclude 
the  hope  that  they  can  receive  one  for  them- 
selves! 

But,  with  joy  shall  ye  draw  water.  Why  with 
joy  ?  Because  their  service  shall  be  a  service  of 
love,  and  love  makes  labour  light — a  free  service: 
they  shall  serve  as  sons  and  not  as  slaves.  Be- 
cause their  service  shall  be  disinterested,  and  such 
a  service  is  ever  pleasant.  Because  it  shall  be  a 
holy  service,  and  such  a  service  must  be  a  happy 
service.  The  prophet,  however,  assigns  the  reason 
in  the  context  "  And  in  that  day  thou  shalt  say, 
0  Lord,  I  will  praise  thee:  though  thou  wast 
^angry  with  me,  thine  .anger  is  .turned  away,  and 


WELLS   OF   SALVATION.  231 

thou  comfortest  me ;"  "  therefore  with  joy  shall  ye 
draw  water  out  of  the  wells  of  salvation." 

"  Behold,  God  is  thy  salvation  !"  "  therefore  with 
joy  shall  ye  draw  water  out  of  the  wells  of  salva- 
tion." 

"  I  will  trust  and  not  be  afraid ;"  "  therefore  with 
joy  shall  ye  draw  water  out  of  the  wells  of  salva- 
tion." 

"  For  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  my  strength  and  my 
song;  He  also  is  become  my  salvation;"  " there- 
fore with  joy  shall  ye  draw  water  out  of  the  wells 
of  salvation." 

The  reader  will  observe  that  the  chief  reason 
why  the  church  is  to  draw  water  with  joy  out  of 
the  "  wells  of  salvation,"  is  the  holy  and  sublime 
assurance  she  has  of  her  interest  in  God — "Be- 
hold, God  is  my  salvation !"  This  is  the  life- 
giving  root  of  all  true  joy  and  spiritual  service ; 
and  because  God  ever  lives,  the  wells  of  salvation 
can  never  run  dry ;  the  church  shall  continue  as 
a  garden  enclosed,  and  a  living  spring,  whose 
waters  fail  not;  "  therefore  with  joy  shall  ye  draw 
water  out  of  the  wells  of  salvation." 

From  the  whole,  then,  we  may  learn,  that  al- 
though believers  are  very  highly  favoured  and 
distinguished  of  God,  they  nevertheless  continue 
to  be  spiritually  poor  and  dependent  upon  their 
Lord;  that  God  has  provided  all  that  they  can 
possibly  need  to  meet  their  wants,  and  to  make 
them  equal  to  a  joyful  and  happy  service ;  and 


232  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

that  it  is  their  duty  and  privilege  to  avail  them- 
selves of  what  He  has  in  love  provided.  We  may 
learn,  still  further,  that  assurance  of  interest  in  the 
love  of  God  is  the  root  of  all  spiritual  activity  in 
His  service,  and  that  the  obedience  He  requires  is 
cheerful  and  intelligent,  and  a  source  of  satisfaction 
and  delight  to  the  soul ;  and,  finally,  that  the  doc- 
trines of  divine  grace,  being  so  many  sources  of 
spiritual  life,  refreshment,  and  strength  to  the 
soul,  can  never  become  obsolete,  and  that  so  far  as 
they  are  wilfully  kept  back,  or  ignorantly  super- 
seded by  something  else,  to  the  same  extent  must 
the  Church  lose  her  spiritual  health,  joy,  and 
fruitfulness.  Many  who  have  drunk  but  very 
superficially  of  the  wells  of  salvation,  and  who, 
whatever  they  may  know  of  other  things,  know 
but  little  of  themselves,  or  of  Divine  teaching, 
speak  of  the  growth  of  the  church  as  a  something 
so  transcendent  as  to  have  superseded  the  old- 
fashioned  wells  of  salvation.  These  are  too  rustic 
for  their  approbation ;  but  let  not  the  believer  be 
deceived.  Men  may  have  more  faith  in  their  own 
dreams  than  God's  word,  and  prefer  their  own 
thoughts  to  His ;  they  may  originate  new  systems 
or  mar  God's,  thinking  they  are  doing  Him  ser- 
vice; but,  after  all,  their  thoughts  and  schemes 
turn  out  to  be  but  broken  cisterns.  They 'may 
alter  and  modify  them,  elaborate,  carve  and  gild 
them — make  them  of  gold,  silver,  copper,  or  brass: 
still  they  are  but  broken  cisterns  which  hold  no 


WELLS   OF  SALVATION.  .  233 

water,  and  only  serve  to  mock  the  thirst  of  the 
heaven-bound  pilgrim. 

It  is  the  duty  and  privilege  of  the  church, 
therefore,  to  stand  by  the  "  wells  of  salvation ;" 
to  remember  that  truth  is  immutable  and  will 
never  change ;  that  God  will  conquer  the  world 
by  His  own  thoughts,  and  not  man's ;  that  though 
the  age  may  advance  in  knowledge,  yet,  if  men  are 
to  be  saved,  they  must  come  to  the  "  wells  of 
salvation"  to  drink ;  that  sin  is  the  same  in  this 
age,  as  those  which  have  preceded  it,  and  that 
God's  method  of  putting  it  away  is  the  same ;  that 
man  is  as  unjust  as  ever  he  was,  and  that  God  has 
the  same  method  of  justifying  him ;  that  the  heart 
is  still  as  corrupt,  and  that  God  has  the  same  grace, 
by  which  He  cleanses  it.  Let  us  not,  therefore,  be 
carried  away  by  fine  talk,  but  listen  to  the  words  of 
Christ.  "  Sanctify  them  by  thy  truth,"  said  He  ; 
"  thy  word  is  truth."  The  same  truth  which  sanc- 
tified the  church  triumphant,  is  to  elevate  the 
church  militant ;  and  let  us  endeavour  to  show 
the  reality  of  spiritual  growth  above  and  beyond 
our  fathers,  by  the  reverence  we  manifest  for  the 
Gospel  of  Christ,  and  by  seeking  to  drink  at  the 
wells  of  pure  and  unadulterated  truth. 

Let  us  give  heed  to  the  apostolic  admonition, 
"  Beware  lest  any  man  spoil  you  through  philo- 
sophy and  vain  deceit,  after  the  rudiments  of  the 
world,  and  not  after  Christ."  Let  us  remember, 
believer,  that  it  is  our  especial  vocation  to  make 
20* 


234  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

known  the  "wells  of  salvation;"  and  when  we 
perceive  a  poor  creature  wearied  in  the  greatness 
of  his  way,  seeking  happiness  and  finding  none, 
let  us  direct  him  to  the  true  source  of  peace  and 
joy.  Oh,  may  the  Gospel  become  increasingly 
precious  to  us !  may  it  be  our  joy  to  point  the 
guilty  to  the  well  of  full  and  free  forgiveness, 
through  a  crucified  Redeemer,  and  the  tried  and 
afflicted  saint  to  that  spring  of  sovereign  and 
immutable  love  which  will  never  exhaust  itself ! 
and  thus  employing  ourselves,  we  shall  do  more 
to  elevate  and  bless  our  fellows  than  mere  philo- 
sophy and  eloquent  talk  have  ever  accomplished, 
and  realise  for  ourselves  the  truth  of  the  Divine 
declaration — "  Therefore  with  joy  shall  ye  draw 
water  out  of  the  wells  of  salvation." 

"  Not  lost  are  they  whose  journey  lies 

Along  the  world's  most  tangled  ways ; 

Nor  need  they  faint  if  burning  skies 

Dry  up  t  he  wells  for  many  days ; 

Nor  they  repine  whose  lot  command 

A  life-path  through  the  desert  sands. 

For,  lo !  the  Gospel  waters  clear 

Are  given  to  their  aching  eyes, 
Wherein,  through  mist  of  earthly  tear, 

They  yet  may  see  the  skies, 
Along  whose  margin  spreads  the  strand 
That  stretches  to  the  Holy  Land. 

We  may  be  poor  through  all  our  days,    • 
Yet  gather  great  increase : 


WELLS   OF  SALVATION.  235 

Our  lives  may  lead  through  rugged  ways, 

But  all  their  paths  be  peace ; 
And  they  on  earth  the  sons  of  toil, 
Are  heirs  of  an  immortal  soil. 

'Twas  thus  the  ladder's  lowest  round 

Rose  up  where,  faint  and  weary  thrown, 
The  Patriarch's  head  no  pillow  found 

More  gentle  than  the  stone ; 
Yet  there  he  caught  the  message  bright 

That  sounded  down  the  golden  spars, 
And  track'd  in  dreams,  the  steps  of  light 

That  stretch'd  beyond  the  stars ; 
And  knew  they  were  the  shining  road 
That  took  the  angels  up  to  God." 

T.  K.  HEEVEY,  Esq. 

"  Lays  of  the  Sanctuary." 


"  Two  things  have  shone  with  golden  light 

Upon  the  way  where  I  am  sent : 
A  rich  man  poor  in  his  own  sight, 

And  a  poor  man  rich  in  his  content. 
But  a  nobler  thing  than  even  these, 

And  shining  with  a  light  more  pure, 
Is  a  poor  man  kneeling  on  his  knees, 
And  thanking  God  that  he  is  poor." 

REV.  W.  W.  How,  M.A. 
" Lays  of  the  Sanctuary" 

<l  Hereby  many  deceive  their  own  souls :  goods,  lands,  posses- 
sions, relations,  trades,  with  secular  interest  in  them,  are  the 
things  whose  image  is  drawn  on  their  minds,  and  whose  charac- 
ters are  written  on  their  foreheads  as  the  titles  whereby  they 
may  be  known.  As  believers,  beholding  the  glory  of  Christ  in 
the  blessed  image  of  the  Gospel,  are  changed  into  the  same 
image  arid  likeness  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord :  so  these  persons, 
beholding  the  beauty  of  the  world  and  the  things  that  are  in  it 
in  the  cursed  glass  of  self-love,  are  in  their  minds  changed  into 
the  same  image.  Hence  perplexing  fears,  vain  hopes,  empty 
embraces  of  things  perishing,  fruitless  desires,  earthly,  carnal 
designs,  cursed  self-pleasing  imaginations,  feeding  on,  and  being 
fed  by  the  love  of  the  world  and  self,  do  abide  and  prevail  in 
them.  (Eph.  iv.  17 — 20;  Rom.  viii.  6.)  But  we  have  not  so 
learned  Christ." 

OWEN. 


t  jlnhrnn  Jtrntomtion; 


OB, 

• 


A  LESSON  FOR  THE  COVETOUS. 


"  Take  heed  and  beware  of  covetousness." — Luke  xii.  15. 

SIN  having  made  man  a  coward  at  heart,  he  is  apt 
to  raise  false  alarms,  and  frequently,  through  the 
want  of  wisdom,  he  attaches  very  solemn  admoni- 
tions to  things  scarcely  worthy  of  his  attention. 
This  is  not  the  case,  however,  with  the  Great 
Teacher  and  man's  best  Friend.  If  a  note  of  warn- 
ing— a  beware  falls  from  His  lips,  we  may  ever 
view  it  as  a  beacon-light  upon  some  hidden  rock, 
upon  which  many  have  made  shipwreck — as  a 
floating  light  amid  a  sea  of  danger ;  and  this  is 
pre-eminently  the  case  in  those  solemn  words  the 
importance  of  which  induces  us  to  cite  them  again : 
"Take  heed,  and  BEWARE  of  covetousness." 

Of  this  sin  we  may  affirm,  that  it  is  the  one  great 
sin  to  which  men  are  primarily  exposed  ;  having 
ceased  to  desire  the  best  of  all  portions,  God  Him- 


238  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

self,  their  corrupt  hearts  perpetually  go  astray  after 
other  things,  which  they  would  fain  put  in  His 
place,  and  make  to  be  to  their  hearts  what  He 
only  can  be.  But  while  this  sin  embraces  more 
or  less  all  alike,  both  rich  and  poor,  binding  all  to 
the  bleak  and  barren  rock  of  dissatisfaction  and 
despair,  but  few  are  conscious  of  its  influence,  and 
very  few  indeed  ever  confess  it  either  before  God 
or  man.  The  truth  is,  sin  has  made  man  so  com- 
pletely selfish,  that  not  until  the  love  of  God  loosens 
his  affections  from  himself  does  he  become  aware 
of  the  number  or  strength  of  the  foes  by  whom 
he  is  held  captive.  Some,  too,  have  a  difficulty 
in  understanding  what  is  meant  by  covetousness. 
The  word  of  God,  however,  speaks  of  it  clearly  and 
explicitly,  as  inordinate  desire,  perpetually  striving 
to  reach  a  practical  issue,  irrespective  of  right  or 
wrong  or  the  glory  of  God.  It  is  a  parent  sin, 
and  never  exists  by  itself.  The  covetous  man 
will  mostly  be  found  to  be  a  niggard ;  sordid,  mer- 
cenary, mean,  unscrupulous,  cruel,  and  dishonest. 
With  such  features  of  character,  such  a  one  might 
certainly  be  viewed  as  the  masterpiece  of  Satanic 
agency.  Let  us,  therefore,  take  heed,  and  beware 
of  this  sin ;  because 

1.  It  estranges  from  God. — This  follows  as  a 
necessary  result.  A  covetous  man  is  perpetually 
putting  something  else  in  the  place  of  God ;  and 
hence  God  stands  at  a  distance  from  him. 

Covetousness  also  hardens  the  heart,  locks  up 


THE   SOLEMN  ADMONITION.  239 

the  affections,  shuts  up  all  bowels  of  mercy,  makes 
men  cruel,  unnatural,  most  unlike  God,  who  "is 
love,"  and  loves  to  communicate  Himself.  A 
covetous  man  is  in  fact  a  moral  petrifaction,  and 
with  such  God  can  hold  no  communion. 

Covetousness  leads  to  a  suspension  of  that  Di- 
vine influence  which  is  essential  to  nearness  with 
God.  The  dew  will  not  rest  upon  a  rock ;  nei- 
ther will  God's  free,  loving,  and  beneficent  Spirit 
dwell  with  the  man  who,  under  the  mastery  of 
this  odious  sin,  lives  exclusively  for  the  gratifi- 
cation of  himself. 

Covetousness  cripples  confidence  in  God ;  and 
when  confidence  in  God  leaves  the  heart,  com- 
munion with  Him  fails  :  the  soul  finds  itself  upon 
an  inclined  plane,  and  by  the  weight  of  its  own 
selfishness  gravitates  further  and  further  from 
God,  until  faith  becomes  a  moral  impossibility, 
and  God  declares,  "Ephraim  is  joined  to  idols; 
LET  HIM  ALONE  !"  And  hence  covetous  men  are 
generally  timid,  full  of  doubts  and  fears ;  a  spirit 
of  bondage  binds  them,  and  they  are  often  afraid 
to  die,  while  yet  too  miserable  to  live  ;  for,  when 
the  heart  so  embraces  its  idol  as  entirely  to  ex- 
clude God,  estrangement  is  complete,  and  all  kinds 
of  misery  begin  to  prey  upon  the  soul. 

2.  Of  its  insidious  development. — This  sin  more 
than  all  others  grows  upon  men.  It  resembles  a 
certain  plant,  which,  having  selected  a  tree,  con- 
tinues to  creep  up  and  entwine  its  fibres  so  closely 


240  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

around  it,  that  at  last  it  is  suffocated,  and  perishes 
in  the  embrace  of  the  parasite  which  its  strength 
had  nourished  and  sustained.  Oh  !  let  us  beware 
of  this  sin,  which,  like  a  serpent,  ever  seeks  by 
degrees  to  coil  around  us,  that  it  may  sting  us 
down  to  hell. 

3.  On  account  of  its  influence  upon  others. — This 
sin,  like  all  others,  communicates  itself.     We  have 
heard  of  a  certain  family,  the  members  of  which 
would  sit  together  for  hours  in  the  dark   on  a 
winter's  night,  rather  than  be  at  the  expense  of  a 
candle ;  and  yet  they  were  possessed  of  thousands. 
Through  the  indulgence  of  this  sin,  the  husband 
may  ruin  the  wife,  and  the  wife  the  husband  ;  the 
parents   their   children,    and   the   children  their 
parents.     Reflect,  reader,  how  awful  to  be  instru- 
mental in  smiting  those  whom  we  love  with  a 
moral  leprosy,  which  must  issue  in  eternal  death  ! 

4.  It  pre-eminently  dishonours  Christ,  on  the  part 
of  those  who  profess  to  be  his  disciples.     "  He  that  is 
joined  to  the  Lord  is  one  spirit.'7      Should  the 
men  of  the  world  believe  this  truth,  what  must 
they  think  of  Christ's  spirit  as  they  see  it  displayed 
by  a  covetous  Christian  ?     Oh !  what  must  be  the 
condemnation  of  those  who  by  their  covetousness 
are  transformed  into  so  many  living,  practical, 
walking,  speaking  libels  of  Christ — of  Him  who, 
"  although  He  was  rich,  yet  for  our  sakes  became 
poor,  that  we  through  His  poverty  might  be  made 
rich ;"  who  parted  with  all  that  He  had,  and  at 


THE   SOLEMN  ADMONITION.  241 

last  gave  even  Himself  a  sacrifice  for  His  people, 
that  they  through  Him  might  have  eternal  life. 

5.  It  so  injures  the  cause  of  Christ. — Covetous- 
ness  is  like  a  moth  fretting  a  garment ;  however 
costly  and  beautiful  it  may  be,  by  degrees  it  will 
be  destroyed.     And  thus  have  many  Christians 
for   a  time   been   robbed   of  all   their   spiritual 
strength  and  beauty ;  while  in  reference  to  those 
who  have  not  grace,  covetousness  has  ruined  its 
thousands.     And  what  this  sin  does  for  the  indi- 
vidual, it  will  do  for  a  community.     Covetous 
ministers  and  deacons  especially  hurt  the  cause 
of  God,  and  hold  back  the  blessing  of  the  Most 
High.     Let  the  reader  read  and  ponder  Isa.  Iviii. 
10—12. 

6.  On  account  of  the  hell  to  which  it  exposes  the 
soul. — Covetousness,  of  all  sins,  most  assimilates 
to  Satan ;  his  heart  is  a  covetous  heart,  his  desires 
are  inordinate,  but  they  all  terminate  in  himself, 
irrespective  of  the  glory  of  God ;  and  hence  the 
misery  of  this  great  but  fallen  spirit.     The  dew 
of  God's  holy  and  benign  Spirit  never  rests  upon 
his  heart,  hardened  and  seared  by  the  dominant 
law  of  selfishness ;  and  hence,  0  misery  supreme, 
no  gushing  forth  of  generous  feeling,  love,  and 
kindness,  is  ever  witnessed  there,  to  fertilise  and 
bless.     The  heart,  to  be  happy,  must  be  an  all- 
embracing  heart,  like  the  heart  of  God,  and  must 
hold  all  things  for  the  good  of  others.     The  devil 
holds  all  things  for  himself,  and  this  is  his  misery, 

21 


242  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

a  misery  from  which  he  cannot  escape,  for  it  is 
himself.  And  hence,  though  as  the  god  of  this 
world  he  has  much,  yet  in  reality  he  has  nothing, 
for  he  cannot  get  away  from  himself  to  enjoy  it. 
All  his  vast  powers  centre  in  himself;  like  so 
many  chains,  they  bind  him  to  the  central  fire  of 
selfishness  which  consumes  him:  he  never  has 
turned,  he  never  can,  he  never  will  of  himself 
turn  his  face  towards  that  blessed  Sun  of  LOVE 
whose  beams  could  thaw  his  awful  nature  into 
fruitful  ness  and  joy,  and  scatter  for  ever  the 
dreadful  winter  of  hate,  covetousness,  and  de- 
spair, which  for  ever  feed  upon  his  mighty  heart, 
and  create  an  eternal  desolation  in  that  spirit 
which  once  stood  erect  and  brightest  before  the 
throne  of  God.  Now,  by  covetousness  men  are, 
as  we  have  observed,  assimilated  to  Satan  and 
fitted  for  his  society ;  and  to  the  place  for  which 
men  fit  themselves  by  their  sins,  God's  Word 
declares  they  shall  go.  And,  reader,  canst  thou 
conceive  of  anything  more  awful  than  this? 
Picture  to  thyself  a  number  of  covetous  men 
compelled  to  live  together  in  the  same  house 
with  no  other  society  for  one  hundred  years — 
what  a  scene  of  moral  ruin  and  misery  thou 
wouldst  witness !  Canst  thou  not  imagine,  that, 
as  these  men  became  less  and  less  human  under 
the  influence  of  their  darling  sin,  how  they  would 
torment  each  other,  and  even  delight  themselves 
in  their  mutually  inflicted  pains  ?  Think,  then, 


THE   SOLEMN   ADMONITION.  243 

reader,  of  hell,  with  its  covetous  prince  and  his 
children — their  state,  the  ages  they  have  been 
and  must  be  together;  and  thy  thought,  if  se- 
rious, will  give  a  terrible, — and  it  is  right  that  it 
should, — a  terrible  emphasis  to  these  solemn 
words  of  the  Great  Teacher,  "  Take  heed,  and 
beware  of  covetousness." 

But  it  is  possible  some  may  inquire  how  they 
are  to  escape  this  all-besetting  sin.  Can  the 
dreadful  chains  by  which  it  binds  the  spirit  to  the 
regions  of  woe  be  broken  ?  They  can :  the  hands 
of  that  God-man  who  spoiled  Satan,  and  which 
were  nailed  to  the  tree  for  our  sins,  can  break 
them.  Dost  thou  ask  how?  by  leading  theeeto 
believe  in  Himself,  and  to  look  constantly  to  Him 
for  strength  to  overcome  this  sin  as  every  other. 
Dost  thou  doubt  this  ?  see  it  exemplified  in  the 
publican  of  old  (Luke  xix.  8).  Faith  will  enable 
thee  to  bring  thy  heart  near  to  the  heart  of  Christ, 
and  here  it  will  lose  its  covetousness,  and  thou 
wilt  realise  for  thyself  the  great  truth  uttered  by 
the  Apostle,  "For  none  of  us  liveth  to  himself, 
and  no  man  dieth  to  himself;  for  whether  we  live, 
we  live  unto  the  Lord ;  or  whether  we  die,  we 
die  unto  the  Lord :  whether  we  live,  therefore,  or 
die,  we  are  the  Lord's."  A  faith,  therefore,  that 
works  by  love  will  save  the  soul  even  from  the 
deadly  embraces  of  covetousness ;  but  it  must  be 
a  faith  that  works  by  love.  "The  liberal  man 
deviseth  liberal  things,  and  by  liberal  things  he 


244  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

shall  stand."  This  order  must  not  be  inverted ; 
many  imagine  they  are  to  stand  by  covetousness, 
and  to  fall  by  liberality,.  But,  no ;  God  declares 
we  are  to  stand  by  liberality.  Let  our  faith 
prayerfully  embrace  this  fact,  and  practise  it,  and 
covetousness  shall  not  claim  us  as  its  slaves. 

"  In  vain  do  wealthy  mortals  toil, 

And  heap  their  shining  dust  in  vain, 
Look  down  and  scorn  the  humble  poor, 
And  boast  their  lofty  hills  of  gain. 

Their  golden  cordials  cannot  ease 
Their  pained  hearts  or  aching  heads, 

Nor  fright  nor  bribe  approaching  death 
From  glittering  roofs  and  downy  beds. 

The  lingering,  the  unwilling  soul 

The  dismal  summons  must  obey, 
And  bid  a  long,  a  sad  farewell 

To  the  pale  lump  of  lifeless  clay. 

Thence  they  are  huddled  to  the  grave, 

Where  kings  and  slaves  have  equal  thrones ; 

Their  bones  without  distinction  lie 
Amongst  the  heap  of  meaner  bones." 

WATTS. 


»  Christ  is  the  only 

Mass  that  e'er  can  save  the  soul !     His  precious 
And  atoning  blood,  once  spilt,  for  ever  cleansed 
And  purified  the  church.     He  is  alone, 
The  Altar,  Sacrifice,  and  Priest :  yea,  ALL 
A  sinner  needs  to  cleanse  and  save. 

"Two  things  may  quiet  any  man's  conscience  under  the 
greatest  guilt.  1  Is  there  not  a  sufficient  sacrifice  ?  Is  there 
.  not  satisfaction  and  atonement  in  the  blood  of  Christ  ?  Is  not 
this  a  sufficient  sacrifice?  2.  Is  it  thine?  This  I  know  unbe- 
lief is  apt  to  stagger  at ;  but  do  but  lay  the  hand  of  thy  faith 
upon  the  head  of  the  sacrifice,  and  confess  and  forsake  thy  sins, 
and  all  that  Christ  hath  done  shall  be  as  effectual  for  thy  good 
as  if  thou  thyself  hadst  suffered,  yea,  infinitely  more." — S. 
MATHER. 

"Here  is  mercy  in  its  yearning  tenderness;  grace  in  its 
boundless  liberality;,  power  in  its  mightiest  operations;  wisdom 
in  its  sweetest  deepest  contrivances ;  faithfulness  in  its  stability ; 
holiness  in  all  its  beauty ;  justice  in  all  its  glory ;  God's  whole 
will  perfectly  expressed  and  responded  to ;  and  all  these  attri- 
butes the  portion  of  the  sinner,  who  trusts  in  the  Saviour,  all 
honoured  by  his  deliverance  from  hell,  and  restoration  to  the 
glory  of  Clod." — Our  Great  High' Priest. 

REV.  J.  Cox. 


(fine  fffmng ; 


OR, 


THE    CHRISTIAN'S    REST. 


"  For  ly  one  offering  he  hath  perfected  for  ever  them  that 
are  sanctified" — Heb.  x.  12. 

THERE  is  something  very  delightful  in  the  contem- 
plation of  perfection — a  finished  thing  is  generally 
loved.  For  this  reason  the  smallest  expression  of 
Divine  power  has  more  charms  for  us  than  the 
most  choice  productions  of  man.  We  look  upon 
a  little  flower  made  by  God,  as  it  hides  its  head  in 
the  grass,  with  more  pleasure  in  this  particular 
than  the  most  classic  book,  ornate  temple,  or 
ingenious  instrument.  And  we  love  in  thought 
to  ascend  far  above  all  worlds  to  the  contemplation 
of  the  Great  Eternal,  and  far  away  from  all  sin 
and  imperfection  to  lay  ourselves  down  at  His  feet, 
to  muse  over  the  absolutely  perfect,  in  the  hope 
that,  at  some  future  period,  through  the  mediation 


248  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

of  Christ,  we  shall  lose  all  our  imperfections  in  the 
beams  of  His  ineffable  glory. 

Now  we  have  to  contemplate  a  perfect  work 
— the  one  offering  of  Jesus,  with  the  result  of 
that  perfection — u  He  hath  by  His  one  offering  for 
ever  peril  cted  the  sanctified."  We  pity  the  man 
who  does  not  understand  this  language ;  whatever 
he  may  know  of  other  things,  being  ignorant  of 
this,  his  learning  will  be  of  little  service  to  him. 
We  are  surrounded  with  the  expressions  of  the 
physical  power  of  God,  minute  and  diversified,  and 
perfection  is  written  upon  them  all ;  but  here  we 
have  a  medium  through  which  His  moral  attributes 
display  themselves  in  all  their  unsullied  majesty 
and  glory.  The  sun,  and  the  moon,  and  the  stars 
are  but  so  many  shining  letters  in  the  name  of 
God;  but  could  we  put  them  all  together,  pile 
them  up  in  one  vast  pyramid,  blazing  and  burn- 
ing with  a  light  above  the  brightness  of  the  sun, 
still  it  would  not  spell  out  to  us  so  much  of  God's 
character  as  may  be  seen  written  upon  the  one 
offering  of  Christ.  God  by  one  act  brought  this 
vast  world  into  existence  by  Him  who  offered 
Himself  up  upon  its  surface,  and  by  a  series  of 
touches  chastened  and  subdued,  beautified  and 
ultimately  subordinated  it  to  man;  and  as  we 
gaze  upon  this  finished  temple,  and  think  of  the 
one  act  which  bade  it  spring  forth  out  of  nothing, 
and  the  repeated  strokes  which  fluted  its  columns, 
carpeted  the  floor,  and  painted  the  ceiling,  we 


THE   ONE   OFFERING.  249 

wonder  and  adore.  But  when  we  contemplate 
the  one  offering  of  Christ,  what  it  embodies  and 
what  it  has  accomplished,  our  wonder  and  adora- 
tion is  enhanced  a  thousandfold.  That  which  the 
many  offerings  of  the  law  could  not  accomplish, 
Jesus  accomplishes  by  one.  The  creature  offered 
up  by  the  creature  could  not  reach  the  ultimate 
design  of  God,  but  Himself  presented  through  the 
creature,  accomplished  at  once  and  for  ever  the 
work.  This  last  act  of  Jesus  was  but  the  climax 
of  a  series  by  which  the  spirituality  of  the  law  was 
brought  out  and  satisfied,  for  Christ  worked  out 
the  spirituality  of  the  law  as  well  by  deeds  as  by 
words,  and  the  perfection  of  the  church  ensured. 
To  reach  this  grand  consummation,  to  which  all 
the  types  and  sacrifices  of  the  law  pointed,  Jesus 
became  incarnate — God  and  the  creature  became 
one.  The  glory  which  the  heaven  of  heavens 
could  not  contain  is  for  a  time  veiled  in  a  temple 
of  clay.  "  Out  of  Zion,  the  perfection  of  beauty, 
God  hath  shined."  From  the  womb  of  a  virgin 
comes  forth  a  child  whom  the  angels  worship,  while 
the  earth  recognises  the  footprints  of  its  adorable 
Creator.  Well  might  the  angelic  throng  touch 
their  harps  afresh,  and  the  shepherds  of  Bethlehem 
join  in  their  song,  when  the  Son  of  God  stepped 
from  His  throne  into  a  manger,  and  the  Ancient  of 
days  appeared  in  an  infant  of  time.  From  the 
moment  of  His  birth  does  His  work  commence, 
fully  conformed  to  the  law  from  the  breasts  of  His 


250  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

mother  to  the  grave.    He  assumed  the  nature  that 
had  sinned,  though  not  a  sinful  nature,  that  He 
might  reach  its  sin,  and  for  ever  put  it  away. 
This   He  accomplished  by  bearing  its  penalty. 
Say  some,  he  could  not  have  endured  the  precise 
penalty  due  to  sin,  for  eternity  enters  into  the 
sufferings  of  the  lost.     True ;  but  does  eternity 
enter  into  the  essence  of  punishment,  or  belong 
rather  to  the  inability  of  the  creature,  who  is 
not  strong  enough  to  bear  the  whole  at  once? 
Say  some,  the  humanity  of  Christ  suffered  only, 
and,  therefore,  it  was  impossible  that  could  have 
borne  all  the  curse,  suffering,    and   misery  due 
to  the  myriads  redeemed.     Who  shall  say  what 
humanity  could  bear  as  sustained  by  the  Divine  ?•• 
Upheld  by  Almighty  power,  we  believe  it  did 
bear  a  tornado  of  wrath  which  must  have  sought 
to  expend  itself  upon  a  guilty  church,  for  ever, 
but  in  vain.     "You  talk  mysteries;'7  yes,  sacred 
to  a  believing  heart.     The  precise  penalty — im- 
possible! what!  wrath,  anger,  remorse,  despair? 
Do  these  belong  to  the  essence  of  punishment, 
or  arise  out  of  the  sinner's  consciousness   that 
he  never  can  meet  the  requisitions  of  justice  ? 
If  Christ  did  not  bear  the  precise  penalty  threat- 
ened, what  relation  have  His  sufferings  to  the 
law  ?     If  He  bore  but  part,  then  to  that  extent 
must  judgment  go  by  default.     In   the  theory 
of  perfect  equivalent,  men  may  find  difficulties ; 
but  does  not  its   denial   involve   greater?     We 


THE   ONE   OFFERING.  251 

find  it  easier  to  believe  even  it  than  those  which, 
while  they  aim  to  destroy  it,  put  nothing  im- 
plicitly and  fairly  in  its  place,  but  leave  us  to 
search  in  vain  for  what  it  is  in  the  one  "  one  offer- 
ing" of  Christ,  of  such  ineffable,  such  unutterable 
value,  that  those  who  are  embraced  by  it  are  eter- 
nally perfected.  Penitent  sinner,  dost  thou  ask 
what  it  is  ?  It  is  the  SATISFACTION  which  Christ 
gave,  really  gave,  to  the  justice  of  God  for  thy 
sins.  That  justice  simply  demanded  that  which 
was  right.  Christ  yielded  that,  neither  more  nor 
less ; — standing  in  thy  room  and  place,  a  surety 
for  thee,  by  the  purpose  of  God  made  one  with 
thee,  He  bore  all  the  wrath,  curse  and  suffering 
due  to  thy  sins,  that  thou  mightest  escape.  Thou 
canst  never  understand  what  it  cost  Him, — what 
He  suffered.  The  depths  of  those  waters  of  sor- 
row in  which  he  was  baptized  will  never  be  fa- 
thomed by  thee,  and  when  thou  dost  approach 
them  let  it  be  with  holy  awe ;  put  off  thy  shoes 
from  off  thy  feet,  for  the  place  whereon  thou 
standest  is  holy  ground.  Let  not  Speculation 
place  her  cold  hand  upon  thy  heart,  and  avoid 
the  mere  metaphysician  when  thou  dost  approach 
the  cross  of  Christ.  The  eye  of  the  former  may 
be  keen,  but  you  look  in  vain  for  a  tear  ;  while 
the  latter,  counting  the  stripes  of  Jesus,  says,  they 
fell  upon  a  creature's  back,  and  that  so  many  and 
no  more  could  be  endured  before  death  seized  his 
victim.  They  take  the  fact  you  see  that  Jesus 


252  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

died.  "  Shake  hands,"  say  they,  "  over  this.'7 
"Oh,  no,"  says  Faith,  "'tis  its  significance  that 
constitutes  its  worth,  that  saves  my  soul,  that 
sanctifies  my  heart,  and  lifts  me  upwards  towards 
the  throne  of  God ;  superficial  views  of  the  justice 
of  God  lead  to  superficial  views  of  the  sufferings 
of  Christ,  and  superficial  views  of  the  sufferings 
of  Christ  lead  to  similar  views  of  the  nature  of 
sin."  "  I  see  no  mystery  in  the  cross  of  Christ," 
says  Eeason,  and,  putting  her  fingers  into  His 
bleeding  wounds,  she  says  they  are  not  deep. 
Says  Faith,  "  They  are  deep  enough  to  hide  all 
the  sins  of  the  Church,  for  He  has  by  His  one 
offering  for  ever  perfected  them  that  are  sanctified, 
and — 

"  *  Here  I'll  sit  for  ever  viewing 

Mercy's  streams  in  streams  of  blood ; 
Precious  drops  my  soul  bedewing, 

Plead  and  claim  my  peace  with  God.'  " 

For  ever  perfected  the  sanctified?  perfected, 
how  ?  By  the  removal  of  sin,  the  procuring  of 
pardon,  justification,  sanctification.  In  relation 
to  what?  l  The  law  of  God,  the  lawgiver — God 
Himself,  if  you  please ;  the  act  of  justification 
which  passed  upon  the  Head,  when  He  arose 
from  the  dead,  embraced  the  members.  In  the 
blood  of  Jesus  the  church  lost  at  once  and  for 
ever  all  her  guilt.  The  huge  burden  of  all  her 
sins  He  left  in  His  sepulchre,  never  to  be  seen 
again;  and  now  in  the  eyes  of  absolute  purity  she 


THE   ONE   OFFERING.  253 

stands  without  a  spot.  The  law  with  its  ten  eyes 
looks  at  her  both  within  and  without,  and  declares 
her  faultless.  Holiness  smiles  upon  her,  and  placing 
her  arms  around  her,  lifts  her  to  the  very  bosom 
of  God.  Amid  the  streaming  effulgence  of  heaven 
her  robes  are  white,  and  in  beauty  and  brightness 
outvie  the  clothing  of  cherubim  and  seraphim 
before  the  throne.  Here  we  have  a  perfection 
not  built  upon  the  creature's  excellence  or  work, 
but  the  perfections  and  toil  of  the  Son  of  God. 
Here  we  behold  the  soul  again  restored  to  its 
rightful  Lord,  and  more  than  paradise  regained. 
We  see  it  clothed  in  a  beauty  more  glorious  than 
even  that  which  sin  took  away,  and  imperishable 
as  the  life  of  God, — a  perfection  built  upon  the 
finished  work  of  Christ  and  secured  and  embraced 
by  all  the  attributes  of  Deity,  and  destined  to  dis- 
play itself  in  the  undying  bliss  of  myriads  through 
the  countless  ages  of  eternity.  0  glorious  bride- 
groom !  0  transcendent  bride !  0  wondrous 
sacrifice,  which  thus  consummates  a  union  preg- 
nant with  such  divine  results  I  0  my  soul,  amid 
the  many  things  which  the  passing  pageant  of 
this  world  constantly  presents  to  thy  view,  and 
by  which  it  would  distract  thy  attention  from 
heavenly  things,  let  the  one  offering  of  Jesus 
never  be  overlooked.  Let  this  be  the  central 
object  of  all  thy  meditations,  as  it  is  the  procuring 
cause  of  all  thy  bliss.  See  thou  but  one  offering 
in  the  book  of  God  and  amid  all  the  varied  offer- 
22 

^V^  Of 


254  LESSONS  FEOM  JESUS. 

ings  of  the  law ;  see  this  world  reared  but  as  an 
altar  for  its  presentation  to  God.  Behold  it  as  the 
central  point  of  time,  the  pivot  of  providence,  and 
destined  to  exert  an  infallible  and  holy  influence 
over  the  present  and  eternal  destiny  of  myriads 
yet  unborn.  To  this  great  offering  come,  and  on 
it  present  thy  offerings,  that  they  may  be  per- 
fumed and  accepted  by  the  great  I  AM.  Art 
thou  anxious  to  know  if  the  one  offering  of  Jesus 
embraces  thee  ?  He  has  by  His  one  offering  per- 
fected them  that  are  sanctified.  Those  who  were 
set  apart  by  the  Father's  love,  chosen  in  Jesus, 
for  whom  He  stood  surety — whom  He  received 
as  a  precious  gift  from  His  Father's  hand — ah! 
but  who  are  they,  say  you  ?  Those  who  believe 
in  and  love  Jesus;  those  who  obey  and  follow 
Jesus ;  those  who  hunger  and  thirst  after  Jesus ; 
who  not  only  desire  to  be  saved  by  Jesus,  but  to 
be  conformed  to  Him — these  are  the  sanctified. 
But  while  seeking  to  be  sanctified,  believer,  .look 
not  to  it,  but  to  Jesus ;  look  not  at  the  perfection 
thou  hast  reached  as  the  basis  of  thy  hope,  or  it 
will  be  hidden  from  thy  eyes ;  but  look  to  the 
perfection  of  Jesus, — to  His  one  offering.  Here, 
while  labouring  to  glorify  thy  God,  thou  wilt  find 
a  perfection  which  will  never  fail  thee,  but,  in  the 
midst  of  all  thy  conscious  sins  and  infirmities, 
will  ever  remain  the  same,  and  will  support  thy 
hope  amid  all  the  billows  of  temptation,  the  trials 
of  life,  and  the  dark  waves  of  death. 


THE   ONE   OFFERING.  255 

"  Jesus,  thy  blood  and  righteousness, 
My  beauty  is,  rny  glorious  dress ; 
'Midst  flaming  worlds,  in  these  arrayed, 
With  joy  shall  I  lift  up  my  head." 

From  these  observations,  the  reader,  it  is  hoped, 
will  perceive  that  there  is  an  indissoluble  con- 
nexion between  the  finished  work  of  Christ,  and 
the  ultimate  salvation  of  all  who  are  embraced  by 
it.  If  the  Atonement,  therefore,  of  Christ  em- 
braces all  men,  then  all  men  are  perfected  by  it, 
and  who  can  perish  ?  Ah !  but  faith  is  needed. 
True,  but  faith  creates  nothing,  but  simply  appre- 
hends what  is.  Prom  this  stand-point,  too,  of 
eternal  truth,  we  see  the  sin  of  the  Catholic  priest, 
who  declares  that  he  constantly  offers  up  the  Son 
of  God  afresh  in  the  unbloody  sacrifice  of  the 
Mass,  and,  by  thus  acting,  as  constantly  impeaches 
and  denies  the  perfection  of  the  sacrifice  of  Christ. 
Upon  this  huge,  monstrous,  Christ-denying  lie  the 
entire  system  of  Rome  is  built ;  take  this  away, 
and  the  vast,  voluptuous  temple  of  superstition 
falls.  Let  us  aim  to  take  it  away,  not  by  using 
her  weapons,  by  emulating  her  spirit,  or  by  thun- 
dering forth  anathemas,  but  by  making  known 
the  truth.  The  death  of  Christ  which  is  her 
weakness,  is  our  strength ;  by  her  many  offerings 
she  shall  die,  by  the  one  offering  of  Christ  we  shall 
live.  This  is  the  knife  by  which  only  we  can  kill 
the  pride  and  enmity  of  man ;  the  lever  in  the 
hand  of  faith  by  which  all  false  systems  shall 


256  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

ultimately  be  overturned.  Upon  the  one  offering 
of  Jesus,  as  the  most  grand  and  sublime  reality 
which  God  Himself  ever  presented  to  the  faith 
and  affections  of  an  intelligent  being,  may  we, 
therefore,  in  simple  and  childlike  faith,  live,  and, 
thus  fed  and  sustained,  may  we  labour;  and  having 
accomplished  all  the  work  assigned  us  through  the 
same  blessed  medium,  may  we  enter  into  that  rest 
the  enjoyment  of  which  it  has  procured  and  en- 
sured to  the  perfected  just! 

"Rest,  weary  soul! 

The  penalty  is  borne,  the  ransom  paid, 
For  all  thy  sins  full  satisfaction  made ; 
Strive  not  thyself  to  do  what  Christ  has  done ; 
Take  the  free  gift,  and  make  the  joy  thine  own. 
No  more  by  pangs  of  guilt  and  fear  distrest — 

Rest,  sweetly  rest ! 

Rest,  weary  heart ! 

From  all  thy  silent  griefs,  and  secret  pain, 
Thy  profitless  regrets,  and  longings  vain  ; 
Wisdom  and  love  have  ordered  all  the  past, 
All  shall  be  blessedness  and  light  at  last ; 
Cast  off  the  cares  that  have  so  long  opprest — 

Rest,  sweetly  rest ! 

Rest,  weary  head ! 

Lie  down  to  slumber  in  the  peaceful  tomb, 
Light  from  above  has  broken  through  its  gloom, 
Here,  in  the^  place  where  once  thy  Saviour  lay, 
Where  He  shall  wake  thee  on  a  future  day, 
Like  a  tired  child  upon  its  mother's  breast—- 
Rest, sweetly  rest ! 


THE   ONE   OFFERING.  257 

Rest,  spirit  free ! 

In  the  green  pastures  of  the  heavenly  shore, 
Where  sin  and  sorrow  can  approach  no  more ; 
"With  all  the  flock  by  the  Good  Shepherd  fed, 
Beside  the  streams  of  life  eternal  led, 
Forever  with  thy  God  and  Saviour  blest — 

Rest,  sweetly  rest  I  " 

H.  L.  L.  in  Family  Paper. 


"  Hast  thou  a  care,  whose  pressure  dread 
Expels  sweet  slumber  from  thy  bed  ? 
To  thy  Redeemer  take  that  care, 
And  change  anxiety  to  prayer." 

MRS.  A.  JULIUS. 

"  The  green  apple  does  not  like  to  be  twisted  and  torn  from 
the  tree ;  but  the  ripened  fruit  that  has  no  more  need  for  the 
root's  sap,  drops  easily  off.  Trust  in  the  Lord,  when  a  soul 
attains  it,  lonsens  every  other  bond,  and  makes  it  easy  to  let  go 
all  which  the  world  gives.  When  you  feel  your  footing  firm  in 
the  peace  of  God,  you  will  not  be  afraid  though  the  earth  should 
sink  away  from  beneath  you." — "  Illustrations  of  the  Book  of  Pro- 
ve?ds"  by  REV.  "W.  ARNOT. 

"  It  is  easy  to  persuade  Papists  to  lean  on  priests  and  saints, 
on  old  rags  and  painted  pictures — on  any  idol ;  but  it  is  hard  to 
get  a  Protestant  to  trust  in  the  living  God." — Ibid. 

11  Popery  sails  with  the  stream  when  it  bids  men  trust,  for  this 
tails  in  with  a  tendency  of  nature  ;  but  it  puts  forward  to  receive 
the  confiding  soul  a  dead  idol,  whose  presence  is  no  rebuke  to 
indulged  sin."— Ibid. 


n  §tlteijer's  (Swat  f  essoit; 


OR, 


THE  CONDITION  OF  PEACE. 


"  TJiou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace,  whose  mind  is  stayed 
on  thee :  because  he  trusteth  in  thee" — Isaiah  xxvi.  3. 

THEKE  are  many  very  beautiful,  congruous,  and 
harmonious  things  to  be  found  in  this  lower  crea- 
tion :  but  none  more  beautiful,  congruous,  and 
harmonious  than  that  of  a  mind  "  stayed  upon 
God."  But  how  rare  a  thing  is  this ;  and  how 
seldom  do  we  meet  with  it.  There  are  myriads 
of  minds  to  be  found  in  the  world,  but  of  how 
few  comparatively  can  it  be  affirmed  that  they 
are  stayed  upon  God. 

Man  is,  indeed,  a  wanderer  at  a  distance  from 
his  home  ;  and  his  mind  roams  through  the  uni- 
verse like  an  orphan  seeking  rest,  and  finding 
none.  Upon  the  flower  of  worldly  pleasure  his 
mind  frequently  settles,  like  a  bee  seeking  to  ex- 
tract from  it  the  honey  of  contentment,  but  in 


260  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

vain.  Wealth,  learning,  fame,  successively  pre- 
sent themselves  before  him ;  and  enamoured 
with  their  charms,  he  seeks  to  find  rest  in  their 
embrace,  and  as  constantly  fails.  Any  object, 
indeed,  he  will  for  a  time  eulogise  and  receive, 
rather  than  the  God  who  made  him ;  and  against 
the  requisitions  of  whose  mercy  he  constantly 
fights.  In  the  world  of  mind,  therefore,  a  mind 
stayed  upon  God  is  a  rare  thing ;  and  it  may  be 
profitable  to  notice  some  of  its  characteristics,  and 
the  peace  which  stands  connected  with  its  privi- 
lege. Such  a  mind  is — 

1.  A  regenerate  mind. — Sin  has  made  man  de- 
generate ;  alive  to  anything  and  everything  rather 
than  God.     Under  its  influence  the  mind  gravi- 
tates from  God,  and  that  perpetually,  from  the 
cradle  to  the  grave.     At  regeneration,  a  principle 
of  spiritual  life  is  infused  into  the  soul  by  the 
Holy  Spirit,  under  the  influence  of  which  it  again 
turns  to  God,  as  its  Great  Parent,  to  find  refuge 
and  peace.  No  human  power  can  accomplish  this  ; 
it  is  the  work  of  God.     "  No  man  can  come  unto 
me,"  said  Christ,  "  except  the  Father  which  hath 
sent  me  draw  him." 

2.  Instructed. — A  mind  stayed  upon  God  does 
not  rest  upon- Him  like  a  stone  in  the  ocean,  with- 
out intelligence  or  feeling ;  but  is  possessed  of 
both.     Such  a  mind  will  be  found  to  be  instruct- 
ed, and  that  by  God  himself.     "  All  thy  children 
shall  be  taught  of  the  Lord,  and  great  shall  be  the 


THE  BELIEVER'S  GREAT  LESSON.        261 

peace  of  thy  children."  The  character  of  God  is 
known — for  "  this  is  life  eternal  to  know  thee, 
the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou 
hast  sent.'7  "  God,  who  commanded  the  light  to 
shine  out  of  darkness,  hath  shined  into  our  hearts, 
to  give  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory 
of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ."  God  out  of 
Christ,  by  reason  of  his  Holiness,  is  a  consuming 
fire  ;  but  in  Christ,  all  his  perfections  are  so  har- 
monised, as  to  become  the  couch  of  the  soul. 
Christ  is  the  mirror  in  which  God  is  seen  by  the 
believer ;  and  here  he  learns  how  He  can  pardon 
his  sins  ;  how  He  can  be  just,  and  yet  the  justifier 
of  the  ungodly  ;  and  under  the  influence  of  these 
perceptions  he  comes,  and  with  child-like  confi- 
dence drops  upon  the  bosom  of  paternal  love. 
The  rest,  therefore,  of  the  soul,  when  it  is  of  God, 
is  a  sublimely  intelligent  rest;  the  mind  is  at 
home  amid  the  perfections  of  Deity ;  is  hushed  to 
rest  by  the  very  attributes  of  Jehovah,  and  be- 
comes a  medium  by  which  they  are  perpetually 
reflected.  God  looks  upon  the  mind  thus  blessed 
with  holy  delight  and  complacency,  and  says, 
"  This  is  my  rest,  here  will  I  dwell,  for  I  have 
desired  it;"  while  the  soul  responds,  "Whom 
have  I  in  heaven  but  Thee,  and  there  is  none  upon 
the  earth  that  I  desire  beside  Thee.  My  heart  and 
flesh  fail,  but  God  is  the  strength  of  my  heart  and 
my  portion  for  ever." 

3.  Believing  mind. — "  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in 


262  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

perfect  peace,  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee: 
because  he  trusteih  in  thee."  It  is  by  believing  we 
enter  into  rest.  It  is  by  faith  that  the  hand  of 
God  raises  the  soul  to  himself.  "  THOU  wilt  keep 
him  in  peace."  The  waters  of  the  human  mind 
God  calms  by  the  oil  of  faith ;  faith  is  a  balm,  a 
sedative  for  all  its  woes ;  but  the  hand  of  God's 
Spirit  must  apply  it.  Faith  is  an  anchor  to  the 
soul,  sure  and  steadfast,  and  which  entereth  into 
that  within  the  veil ;  but  God  fixes  that  anchor 
upon  the  rock  of  Christ,  and  thus  fulfils  the  pro- 
mise, "  Thou  wilt  keep  Him  in  perfect  peace, 
whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee :  because  he  trusteth 
in  thee." 

4.  Weaned  mind. — "  My  soul  is  like  a  weaned 
child,"  said  the  psalmist.  His  soul  had  but  one 
Master — God.  The  carnal  mind  has  many  lords, 
who  make  sad  havoc  of  its  powers,  and  who  help 
themselves  to  its  strength  and  peace  as  they  please 
— hence  its  distractions  and  sorrows.  The  soul, 
therefore,  can  never  be  itself  until  it  comes  to  God. 
Until  the  King  takes  possession  of  His  throne,  all 
the  subjects  will  rebel.  To  bring  a  man,  there- 
fore, to  God,  is  to  bring  him  to  himself.  A  mind 
stayed  upon  God  is  weaned  from  all  created 
things,  and  being  weaned  from  them  gains  power 
over  them,  and  can  subordinate  them  to  their 
legitimate  uses.  When  the  mind  is  content  to  be 
nothing,  that  God  may  be  all  and  in  all,  perfect 
peace  and  prevalent  victory  is  the  result ;  and 


THE  BELIEVER'S  GREAT  LESSON.        263 

those  thus  blessed  even  now  reign  with  Christ, 
and  are  made  "kings  and  priests  unto  God." 

5.  Sanctified. — If  the  mind,  like  a  vessel,  be- 
comes emptied  of  itself  and  filled  with  Christ,  we 
are  sure  who  has  accomplished  the  work.  The 
GREAT  SAISTCTIFIER  only  can  purify  the  affections, 
and  lead  the  mind  to  desire  and  realize  its  true 
rest  in  God.  And  how  loving,  yet  invincible,  is 
His  work.  It  is  His  kind  hand  removes  all  our 
vain  refuges  until  the  heart  of  Jesus  becomes  the 
home  of  the  spirit.  When  contemplating  man's 
wrecked,  forlorn,  and  storm-tossed  spirit,  at  rest 
upon  the  bosom  of  its  God,  let  us  never  forget 
that  this  shining  gem  in  this  universe  of  darkness 
and  uncertainty,  is  especially  and  emphatically 
the  work  of  God's  Spirit. 

But  we  have  to  notice  the  result  of  the  mind 
being  stayed  upon  God — "  perfect  peace" 

This  peace  is  a  peace  of  harmony ;  the  soul  is 
in  harmony  with  God,  itself,  and  the  world. 

1.  In  harmony  with  God. — This  is  essential  to 
real  peace.  That  which  is  true  of  our  physical 
constitution,  is  no  less  true  of  our  moral.  The 
body  is  an  exquisitely -adjusted  machine,  every 
part  of  which  must  work  in  accordance  with  the 
intention  of  the  Great  Mechanician  who  put  it 
together,  or  health,  which  is  indeed  the  peace  of 
the  body,  will  be  absent.  And  so  with  the  soul  ; 
the  intelligence  which  dwells  in  the  midst  of  the 
complicated  bodily  mechanism,  with  all  its  facul- 


264     .  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

ties,  must  be  in  accordance  with  God's  moral 
laws  in  order  to  peace.  When  the  mind  is  stayed 
upon  Christ,  this  is  accomplished,  and  peace  is 
the  result. 

2.  In  harmony  with  itself. — This  follows  as  the 
result  of  the  former.     A  mind  in  harmony  with 
God  will  be  in  harmony  with  itself,  even  as  the 
planets  of  the  solar  s}7stem  being  in  harmony  with 
the  sun,  are  in  harmony  with  themselves:    the 
effect  of  this  harmony  is  peace. 

3.  In   harmony   with    the    universe. — A   mind 
stayed  upon  God  is  a  rneek  mind ;  and  the  meek 
shall  inherit  the  earth.     Such  a  mind  will  wisely 
use  the  world,  and  not  abuse  it ;  will  be  able  fre- 
quently to  say,  under  the  influence  of  holy  and 
sublime  enjoyment, 

"  Creation's  heir,  the  world,  the  world  is  mine." 

Even  the  seeming  discord  of  the  world  will  be- 
come music  to  the  soul  in  harmony  with  God. 
The  mind,  attuned  to  its  highest  and  sublimest 
function,  like  an  JEolian  harp  touched  by  the 
fingers  of  nature,  will  give  forth  its  most  latent 
music,  and  yield  in  undying  strains  the  richest 
melodies  of  heaven — the  key-note  of  each  and  all, 
however,  being  peace :  "  And  the  work  of  right- 
eousness shall  be  peace ;  and  the  effect  of  right- 
eousness, quietness  and  assurance  for  ever." 

This  peace,  however,  is  spoken  of  as  a  "perfect 
peace :" — 


THE  BELIEVER'S  GREAT  LESSON.   265 

1.  Because  it  is  complete  in  itself,  and  contains 
the  germ  of  present  and  everlasting  bliss. 

2.  Because  it  is  the  fruit  of  God's  most  perfect 
Spirit,  harmonising  the  powers  of  the  soul,  and 
bringing  them  into   accordance  with  God,  and 
truth,  and  happiness. 

8*.  On  account  of  the  element  of  perpetuity  it 
contains,  this  perfect  peace  never  fails  the  soul. 
It  is  not  affected  by  the  changes  of  time ;  it  may 
be  compared  to  a  river  issuing  from  the  throne 
of  God  and  the  Lamb,  and  flowing  on  without 
let  or  hindrance  through  the  waste  places  of  time 
to  the  deep  and  quiet  ocean  of  eternity. 

4.  It  perfects  the  character;  it  frees  the  mind 
from  the  reign  of  slavish  fear,  doubt,  and  uncer- 
tainty, and  fits  for  heaven. 

We  have  said;  that  a  mind  stayed  upon  God  is 
a  beautiful  thing ;  it  is  like  a  child  in  peace  upon 
its  mother's  breast;  like  a  beautiful  mirror  re- 
flecting the  glory  of  God ;  a  well-tuned  instru- 
ment ever  discoursing  His  praise.  Oh  that 
through  the  teaching  of  God's  Spirit  this  privi- 
lege may  become  unceasingly  ours ! 
•  From  these  reflections,  we  may  learn  how 
foolish  it  is  to  seek  for  happiness  apart  from  the 
favour  of  God,  seeing  that  the  conditions  of  hap- 
piness depend  upon  the  soul's  being  brought  into 
harmony  with  God.  And  what  an  encouraging 
consideration,  to  the  most  disordered  and  de- 
graded, that  God  in  Christ  speaks  to  us,  and 
23 


266  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

exhorts  us  to  look  to  Him,  that  we  may  be  saved. 
The  soul  is,  indeed,  like  a  broken  harp ;  but  God 
can  repair  it ;  and  this  He  accomplishes,  not  by 
education,  philosophy,  or  morality,  but  by  bring- 
ing it  to  Himself,  by  the  power  of  a  living  faith 
in  a  crucified  Saviour,  the  merits  of  His  Son,  and 
the  renewing  of  His  Spirit.  Thus  is  it,  dear 
reader,  that  the  hand  of  Divine  Mercy  reaches 
the  soul  in  the  midst  of  its  most  dreadful  strug- 
gles with  sin  and  death,  to  raise  it  from  its  dan- 
gers and  sorrows  to  the  very  heights  of  glory  and 
renown.  "TRUST  YE  (THEREFORE)  IN  THE 
LORD  FOR  EVER;  for  in  the  Lord  JEHOVAH 

IS  EVERLASTING  STRENGTH." 

"  Thou  hidden  Love  of  God,  whose  height, 

Whose  depth  unfathom'd  no  man  knows, 
I  see  from  far  thy  beauteous  light, 
Inly  I  sigh  for  thy  repose. 

My  heart  is  pain'd,  nor  can  it  be 
At  rest,  till  it  findvS  rest  in  Thee. 

Thy  secret  voice  invites  me  still 

The  sweetness  of  Thy  yoke  to  prove ; 
And  fain  I  would ;  but  though  my  will 
Seems  fix'd,  yet  wide  my  passions  rove, 
And  hindrances  obstruct  the  way ; 
I  aim  at  Thee,  but  from  Thee  stray. 

'Tis  mercy  all,  that  Thou  hast  brought 
My  mind  to  seek  her  peace  in  Thee ; 
Yet,  while  I  seek,  but  find  Thee  not, 
No  peace  my  wandering  soul  shall  see. 
Oh,  when  shall  all  my  wanderings  end, 
And  all  my  steps  to  heaven  tend ! 


THE  BELIEVER'S  GREAT  LESSOR.   267 

Is  there  a  thing  beneath  the  sun 

That  strives  with  Thee  my  heart  to  share  ? 
Ah,  tear  it  thence  and  reign  alone, 
The  Lord  of  every  motion  there. 

Then  shall  my  heart  from  earth  be  free 
When  it  hath  found  repose  in  Thee. 

Each  moment  draw  from  earth  away 

My  heart,  that  lowly  waits  Thy  call. 
Speak  to  my  inmost  soul  and  say, 
'I  am  thy  Love,  thy  God,  thy  All.' 
To  feel  Thy  power,  to  hear  Thy  voice, 
To  taste  Thy  love,  be  all  my  choice  1" 


"  A  seeming  truth,  and  yet  beware 
The  half  truth  only  may  be  there. 
The  man  is  not  of  soul  alone, 
But  soul  and  body  knit  in  one ; 
And  will  the  Maker  look  for  less 
Than  the  whole  being's  earnestness?" 
WM.  SAWYER,  ESQ., 

•  "  Lays  of  the  Sanctuary" 

"The  turning  which  constitutes  salvation  is,  supremely,  all 
God's  gift,  and  subordinately,  all  the  doing  of  man.  From  the 
spring-head  in  the  heart,  to  the  outermost  streams  of  life,  He 
makes  all  things  new ;  and  yet  the  man  himself  must,  at  God's 
bidding,  turn  from  all  iniquity." 

KEV.  "W.  ARNOT, 
"Illustrations  of  the  Book  of  Proverbs.11 


t  fmtjfinj ; 


OR, 


THE  MANIFESTATION  OF  TRUTH  TO  THE 
CONSCIENCE. 


"  By  manifestation  of  the  truth  commending  ourselves  to 
every  man's  conscience  in  the  sight  of  God" — 2  Cor.  iv.  2. 

WHAT  God  as  a  moral  Governor  claims  from  men 
in  general  who  hear  the  Gospel  of  His  Son,  and 
how  those  claims  are  to  be  set  forth  by  those  to 
whom  is  entrusted  the  proclamation  of  the  tidings 
of  mercy,  have  been  and  must  continue  to  be, 
points  of  intense  interest  and  prayerful  anxiety  to 
the  earnest  Christian.  When  we  reflect  that  a 
mistake  in  reference  to  the  former,  will  not  only 
dishonour  God,  but  may  be  the  means  of  mislead- 
ing men  to  their  eternal  ruin,  how  solemnly  import- 
ant it  is,  that  we  should  seek  wisdom  at  the  foun- 
tain-head ;  that  so  men  may  neither  be  deceived  by 
our  words,  nor  alienated  by  our  manner,  but  that, 
emulating  the  conduct  of  the  Apostle,  "  by  the 
23* 


270  LESSONS  FKOM  JESUS. 

manifestation  of  the  truth  we  may  commend  our- 
selves to  every  man's  conscience  in  the  sight  of 
God."  The  contemplation  of  these  words  may 
tend  to  the  elucidation  of  the  points  to  which 
reference  is  made  above,  and  we  will  notice  three 
things : — conscience,  work,  and  manner. 

Conscience. — Much  has  been  written  respecting 
this  by  many,  and  to  but  little  purpose.  Some 
have  made  use  of  their  reason  to  destroy  con- 
sciecne,  thinking  that  by  so  doing  they  should  get 
rid  of  their  responsibility.  These  men  may  be 
viewed  as  moral  suicides,  both  in  reference  to 
themselves  and  society.  They  have  argued  thus: 
— Many  are  to  be  found  among  the  heathen  who 
have  not  and  never  had  a  conscience,  and,  there- 
fore, it  is  evident  that  God  makes  some  men 
without  a  conscience,  and  if  without  a  conscience, 
without  responsibility.  But  does  the  absence  of 
a  thing  prove  the  normal  condition  of  the  thing 
from  which  it  is  absent?  Men  may  be  found 
without  natural  health,  but  does  this  prove  that 
God  made  or  meant  them  to  be  so  ?  And  ought 
we  not  to  distinguish  between  the  existence  of  a 
thing  and  the  evidences  of  its  existence  ?  The 
eye  is  a  beautiful  optical  instrument,  perfect  in 
itself;  and  though  it  should  present  no  object  to 
the  mind  in  the  midst  of  darkness,  still  the  person 
favoured  with  its  possession  would  not  be  justified 
in  coming  to  the  conclusion,  that  because  he  could 
not  see  under  such  circumstance  such  an  organ  did 


APOSTOLIC   PREACHING.  271 

not  exist.  So  man  may  have  the  faculty  by  which 
to  distinguish  right  from  wrong,  though  the  dark- 
ness of  ignorance  may  for  a  time  prevent  its  exer- 
cise. But  let  light  from  heaven  stream  inward 
upon  it  through  the  truth,  and  we  soon  shall  find 
that  the  monitor  is  there,  though  for  a  long  time 
lulled  to  sleep  by  his  own  sin  or  the  sins  of  his 
parents.  Here  is  a  train  of  gunpowder,  but  we 
cannot  see  it,  and  have  no  evidence  of  its  exist- 
ence ;  but  let  a  spark  though  ever  so  small  reach 
it,  and  what  a  sudden  explosion  !  And  here  is  a 
conscience  altogether  dead,  and  affording  no  evi- 
dences of  its  existence,  but  the  omnipotent  Spirit 
lets  fall  a  spark  of  truth  upon  it,  and  what  a 
terrible  storm  in  the  soul ! — the  man  is  killed  in 
his  apprehensions,  while  all  his  false  hopes  are 
blown  to  pieces  around  him.  It  was  so  with  the 
Apostle  Paul.  He  was  once  alive,  he  tells  us, 
without  the  law.  It  appeared  as  though  he  had 
no  conscience  in  relation  to  it — but  when  the  law 
came,  brought  by  the  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
when  its  true  character  was  opened  up  to  his  mind, 
his  spiritual  perception  of  the  extent  of  its  require- 
ments pierced  his  slumbering  conscience  like  a 
knife,  and  it  arose  and  pronounced  the  verdict  of 
condemnation  upon  him,  and  he  stood  a  dead  man 
in  the  eye  of  law,  with  his  false  hope  slain  by  his 
side.  We  cannot,  therefore,  argue  from  what  a 
man  is  in  a  diseased  condition,  to  what  he  is 
when  in  health,  either  naturally  or  spiritually. 


272  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

Nor  does  it  follow,  because  conscience  does  not 
trouble  a  man,  that,  therefore,  he  has  none ;  for  in  a 
.moment,  by  the  agency  of  truth,  His  Almighty 
Spirit  can  demonstrate  the  contrary  in  the  expe- 
rience of  any  man,  however  ignorant  or  depraved 
he  may  be.  We  think  that  if  it  be  granted  to  us 
that  man  has  a  soul  as  well  as  a  body,  we  could, 
arguing  from  analogy,  prove  that  man  must  have 
a  conscience.  Take  a  needle  and  pierce  any  part 
of  the  body ;  what  is  the  result  ? — pain  ;  and 
what  is  that  but  God's  sentinel  upon  the  walls  of 
our  frail  habitation,  placed  there  by  Him  in  love, 
to  warn  us  when  we  are  violating  any  of  the  laws 
of  our  physical  being,  that  we  may  not  destroy 
ourselves?  And  can  we  for  a  moment  suppose 
that  God  would  thus  care  for  the  material  and 
perishable,  without  a  corresponding  care  for  the 
safety  of  the  immaterial  and  imperishable  ?  We 
believe  that  what  we  term  conscience  in  the  soul 
of  man,  is  this  expression  of  God's  superlative  love 
of  that  immortal  inmate,  and  intended  by  Him  to 
preserve  us  from  the  violation  of  the  laws  of  our 
moral  being,  even  as  pain  is  by  Him  intended  to 
be  subservient  to  the  same  result  in  reference  to 
the  body.  Though  nations  therefore  may  be 
found,  whose  conscience  has  been  partially  or 
wholly  destroyed  by  their  ancestors,  and  indivi- 
duals who  have,  by  their  own  sins,  consigned  to 
death  the  friend  whose  faithful  warnings  and  re- 
proofs it  was  their  duty,  and  would  most  assuredly 


APOSTOLIC  PREACHING.  273 

have  been  tlieir  happiness  to  have  preserved,  still 
of  men  in  general,  even  the  most  ignorant  and 
depraved,  we  may  safely  affirm  that  there  is  in 
them  a  moral  sense,  a  mind  capable  of  discrimina- 
tion between  right  and  wrong,  termed  conscience, 
and  which  gives  them  a  relation  of  responsibility 
to  the  law  and  moral  government  of  God.  This 
conscience,  however,  may  and  does  exist  in  men 
in  various  states ;  it  may  be  found  in  a  state  of 
death,  Eph.  ii.  1;  anxiety,  Acts  ii.  37;  peace, 
Eom.  v.  1. 

Now  the  Apostles — while  with  all  plainness  of 
speech  they  endeavoured  to  make  known  the  truth 
of  the  Gospel  to  the  mind,  and  by  their  appeals  to 
the  facts  of  human  consciousness  or  experience,  as 
agreeing  with  the  declarations  of  the  Word  of  God, 
sought  to  gain  for  their  message  a  believing  recep- 
tion as  coming  from  God — never  lost  sight  of  the 
various  states  of  conscience  to  which  we  have  re- 
ferred, but  sought  through  the  medium  of  certain 
adapted  truths  found  in  the  Word  of  God,  to  reach 
them,  and  to  produce  certain  specific  results  in 
relation  to  each.  It  may  be  instructive  for  us  to 
notice  these  results,  and  how  they  sought  to  pro- 
duce them.  Their  object  in  reference  to  the  dead 
conscience  would  be  to  wound,  alarm,  and  arouse 
it ;  in  other  words,  in  dependence  upon  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  vitalise  it.  This  they  endeavoured  to 
compass  by : — 

1.  Opening  up  the  nature  and  spirituality  of 


274  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

God's  law,  and  the  truth  in  general,  to  the  under- 
standing, and  by  reasoning  and  persuasion ;  as 
may  be  seen  most  fully  exemplified  in  the  Epistle 
of  Paul  to  the  Galatians,  and  the  course  he  pur- 
sued with  his  unbelieving  brethren  at  Antioch. 
Acts  xiii.  14. 

2.  By  charging  home  certain  sins  upon  the  con- 
sciences of  those  who  were  known  to  have  com- 
mitted them.     Acts  ii.  23. 

3.  By  warnings :  we  shall  cite  but  one,  uttered 
by  Paul  and  Barnabas  to  the  unbelieving  Jews. 
Acts  xiii.  46.     "  Then  Paul  and  Barnabas  waxed 
bold,  and  said,  It  was  necessary  that  the  Word  of 
God  should  first  have  been  spoken  to  you :  but 
seeing  ye  put  it  from  you,  and  judge  yourselves 
unworthy  of  everlasting  life,  lo,  we  turn  to  the 
Gentiles."     These  words  are  very  striking,  and 
plainly  declare  that  the  Apostles  did  not  permit 
men  to  go  from  beneath  the  sound  of  their  voice 
under  the  impression  that  their  unbelief  and  desti- 
tution of  salvation  were  to  be  traced  to  the  sove- 
reignty of  God,  but  to  their  own  ignorance  and 
enmity ;  they  traced  it  to  their  own  act  and  deed, 
and  threw  the  blame  of  their  own  condemnation 
upon  themselves — u  seeing  ye  judge  yourselves  un- 
worthy of  everlasting  life."     The  heavy  chain  of 
personal  responsibility  men  are  perpetually  endea- 
vouring, by  all  kinds  of  sophistries  and  the  teach- 
ing of  Satan,  to  loosen  from  themselves  and  to 
fasten  upon  God,  vainly  striving  to  throw  the 


APOSTOLIC   PREACHING.  275 

blame  of  their  eternal  ruin  upon  him,  the  Apos- 
tles constantly  sought,  by  their  teaching,  and  the 
manifestation  of  the  truth,  to  fasten  again  upon 
them,  with  the  design  and  prayer  that  they,  feel- 
ing its  pressure,  might  be  brought  to  seek  for 
mercy ;  or  if  they  did  not,  that  the  righteousness 
of  God  might  the  more  abundantly  appear  in 
their  condemnation .  "  We  are  unto  God,"  said 
he,  "  a  sweet  savour  of  Christ,  in  them  that  are 
saved,  and  in  them  that  perish." 

4.  By  exhortation.  Thus  the  Apostle  upon 
Mars-hill — "  and  the  times  of  this  ignorance  God 
winked  at;  but  now  commandeth  all  men  every- 
where to  repent."  And  the  motive  he  brings 
before  them  to  incite  them  to  repentance  in  de- 
pendence upon  God's  Spirit  was  not  derived  from 
any  national  good  t<j  be  procured  by  it,  or  tem- 
poral favour,  but  from  the  day  of  judgment  and 
their  eternal  destiny  in  relation  to  it. 

The  same  course  also  was  pursued  by  the  Apos- 
tle Peter,  who  did  not  hesitate  to  call  upon  Simon, 
the  sorcerer,  to  repent  of  his  sin,  and  to  pray  to 
God  that  it  might  be  forgiven  him/  "Kepent 
therefore,"  said  he,  "of  this  thy  wickedness,  and 
pray  God,  if  perhaps  the  thought  of  thy  heart 
may  be  forgiven  thee.  For  I  perceive  that  thou  art 
in  ike  gall  of  bitterness,  and  in  the  bond  of  iniquity  " 
Here  we  have  a  man  exhorted  to  repentance  and 
prayer,  that  his  sin  may  be  forgiven  him ;  and, 
of  course,  faith  in  the  merits  of  Christ  must  have 


276  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

been  involved,  for  there  can  be  no  pardon  without 
faith  in  the  atoning  sacrifice  of  Jesus.  And  the 
reason  why  the  Apostle  so  exhorted  him  was,  that 
he  perceived  him  to  be  unconverted — "I  perceive," 
said  he,  "thou  art  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,"  &c. — 
the  very  reason  why  some  would  not  have  so  ex- 
horted him,  but  have  thought  it  extremely  wrong 
and  a  great  folly  to  do  so. 

Our  Saviour  also  exhorted  sinners  to  seek  their 
salvation — "  While  ye  have  light  believe  in  the 
light,  that  ye  may  be  the  children  of  light." 
These  words  were  addressed  to  the  people  indis- 
criminately. It  has  been  admitted  that  the  appel- 
lation "children  of  light,"  is  never  applied  to  any 
but  real  Christians ;  it  follows,  therefore,  that 
.Christ  exhorted  men  in  general  to  seek  their  salva- 
tion, and  to  follow  after  real  religion.  Some  have 
affirmed  that  by  these  words  our  Saviour  simply 
exhorts  to  natural  faith,  and  that  those  who  so 
believed  and  received  him  as  the  Messiah,  might 
be  compared  to  children  of  light  when  contrasted 
with  those  who  rejected  Him,  although  not  saved 
by  their  faith,  or  really  converted  in  heart  to  God. 
But  it  has  been  admitted  that  the  phraseology  is 
never  used  but  in  reference  to  those  who  are 
really  converted  to  God;  and  to  admit  that  Christ 
exhorted  to  the  exercise  of  such  natural  faith,  as 
the  extent  of  man's  obligation,  would  be  equal  to 
an  affirmation  that  He  was  broken  in  the  aim  of 
His  ministry — that  on  some  occasions  He  exhorted 


APOSTOLIC   PKEACHING.  277 

to  that  which  on  other  occasions  he  condemned. 
This  is  apparent  from  the  parable  of  the  "  wise 
and  foolish  virgins,"  in  which  He  condemns  those 
who  were  satisfied  with  a  mere  form  of  religion, 
and  terms  them  foolish  for  taking  a  lamp  without 
oil.  But  if  He  exhorted  them  not  to  seek  grace, 
but  merely  to  a  faith  which  left  them  with  their 
hearts  alienated  and  really  in  the  world  notwith- 
standing their  profession,  a  faith  which  left  them 
natural  men  still,  and  as  such  at  enmity  with  God, 
how  could  he  justly  term  them  foolish  virgins  ? 
Could  not  such  at  the  day  of  judgment  reply  to 
Christ  and  say,  Why  term  us  foolish  for  being 
what  you  simply  exhorted  us  to  be  ?  You  did 
not  really  call  upon  us  to  seek  grace  or  the  salva- 
tion of  our  souls ;  and  have  we  not  heard  your 
own  servants,  upon  the  ground  of  vour  own  re- 
vealed will,  ridicule  duty-faith,  and  affirm  that  it 
was  folly  to  exhort  us  to  seek  the  one  thing  need- 
ful ?  But  can  the  reader  believe  that  the  exhorta- 
tions of  Christ  for  the  most  part  were  intended  to 
direct  self-righteous  men  to  a  dead  morality,  which 
He  condemned,  to  believe  with  the  faith  of  devils 
—to  repent,  while  at  the  same  time  they  hate,  and 
at  last  die  in  their  sins  and  perish  for  ever  ?  Yet 
all  these  things  follow  if  Christ  exhorted  men  to 
a  faith  which  left  them  natural  men ;  for  a  natural 
man  is  a  carnal  man,  and  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity 
against  God;  it  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God, 
neither  indeed  can  it  be.  If  it  be  asserted  that 
24 


278  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

Christ  did  call  upon  men  to  exercise  such  a  faith, 
and  has  made  it  incumbent  upon  His  ministers  to 
do  so  now,  we  should  be  inclined  to  ask  upon 
what  ground  and  to  what  law  such  a  faith  stands 
related  ?  We  certainly  think  it  passing  strange 
that,  standing  in  the  midst  of  a  self-righteous 
people,  He  should  exhort  them  to  a  faith  which 
was  dead,  not  having  a  spiritual  root,  and  that 
He  of  whom  it  was  said  most  emphatically  that 
He  came  to  save  the  lost,  should  direct  almost  all 
His  efforts  to  the  production  of  a  grace  which  left 
men  still  in  their  sins,  and  exposed  to  eternal 
wrath.  If  this  is  not  German  neology,  it  is  cer- 
tainly something  worse  than  negative  theology, 
as  we  have  no  doubt  the  day  of  eternity  will 
declare. 

We  could  cite  almost  any  number  of  passages 
to  prove  our  position — that  the  Apostles  sought 
to  arouse  the  dead  consciences  of  men  by  exhort- 
ing them  to  seek  the  salvation  of  their  souls — but 
shall  content  ourselves  with  but  two.  Our  Saviour, 
addressing  the  Pharisees,  said — "Labour  not  for 
the  meat  which  perisheth,  but  for  that  meat  which 
endureth  unto  everlasting  life,  which  the  Son  of 
man  shall  give  unto  you ;  for  Him  hath  God  the 
Father  sealed."  Then  said  they  unto  Him,  "  What 
shall  we  do,  that  we  might  work  the  works  of 
God?"  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
"This  is  the  work  of  God,  that  ye  believe  on 
Him  whom  He  hath  sent."  The  people  here,  as 


APOSTOLIC   PREACHING.  279 

elsewhere,  were  all  for  working.  "What  shall 
we  do?"  said  they.  "This  is  your  duty,"  said 
Christ,  " not  to  work  at  all,  but  simply  to  believe" 
This  is  what  God  demands  of  you,  that  you  "  be- 
lieve on  Him  whom  He  hath  sent."  And  the 
motive  to  this  was  not  that  their  nation  might  be 
spared  the  judgments  of  God,  or  that  they  might 
have  a  less  degree  of  torment  in  hell,  but  that 
they  might  have  EVERLASTING  LIFE.  To  a  curious 
speculative  character,  and  there  are  many  such, 
who  put  a  question  to  our  Lord  as  to  whether 
few  would  be  saved,  He  said,  "  Strive  to  enter  in 
at  the  straight  gate."  Upon  this  we  cannot  now 
enlarge,  but  we  would  simply  add,  that  we  think 
our  Saviour  dealt  wisely  with  this  man,  who  was 
but  a  type  of  too  many  in  our  day ;  our  supreme 
concern  should  be  to  know  that  we  are  interested 
in  Christ ;  with  the  number  to  be  saved,  whether 
few  or  many,  we  have  nothing  to  do. 

To  what  we  have  here  stated  many  objections, 
we  have  no  doubt,  will  be  brought.  Some  will 
say,  Why  exhort  the  sinner  to  seek  when  he  is 
dead  ?  To  which  we  reply,  that  the  rule  of  a 
man's  obligation  is  not  his  ability  or  inability, 
but  the  commands  of  God,  which  commands  are 
built  upon  His  eternal  law,  which  law  makes  it 
incumbent  upon  man  that,  in  whatever  form  the 
will  of  God  is  made  known  to  him,  he  should 
receive  it,  and  conform  himself  to  it.  And  if  it 
be  absurd  to  exhort  men  to  believe  because  they 


280  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

cannot,  then  it  must  be  equally  absurd  to  open 
up  the  law  to-  them,  seeing  that  they  have  no 
more  power  to  perceive  its  spirituality,  so  as  to 
be  savingly  convinced  of  sin,  than  they  have  to 
believe  the  Gospel. 

Others  may  object  that  to  exhort  men  in  gene- 
ral to  seek  the  salvation  of  their  souls  is  equal  to 
a  declaration  of  insincerity  on  the  part  of  God, 
He  having  determined  the  salvation  of  the  elect 
only ;  to  which  we  reply  that  these  exhortations 
are  not  declarative  of  God's  secret  intentions,  but 
of  the  sinner's  duty,  and  intended  to  show  the 
connexion  God  has  established  between  the  means 
and  the  end  to  be  accomplished — viz.  faith  and 
the  salvation  of  the  soul.  God  commanded 
Pharaoh,  by  the  mouth  of  His  servant,  to  let  His 
people  go,  but  secretly  He  determined  he  should 
not ;  was  God  insincere,  or  was  it  less  Pharoah's 
duty  to  have  obeyed  His  command  ? 

But,  say  some,  God  has  not  provided  salvation 
for  all.  How,  then,  can  all  be  exhorted  to  seek  ? 
Because  obligation  to  believe  does  not  arise  out 
of  provision  at  all,  but  out  of  the  eternal  law  of 
God.  If  these  explanations  are  not  satisfactory, 
and  do  not  harmonise  the  doctrine  of  particular 
redemption  with  a  free  appeal  to  the  sinner's  con- 
science, what  then — shall  we  give  up  either? 
God  forbid !  Both  being  contained  in  the  Word 
of  God,  it  is  of  more  importance  that  we  should 
hold  and  declare  both,  than  that  we  should  sup- 


APOSTOLIC   PREACHING.  281 

ply  connecting  links,  to  make  them  harmonise 
with  each  other,  as  we  imagine.  Does  God  seek 
this  at  our  hands  ?  Let  the  reader  consider  what 
he  must  believe  if  he  parts  with  either,  and 
whether  other  systems  do  not  present  greater 
difficulties. 

Suppose  we  were  to  say  that  the  exhortations 
we  have  referred  to  form  but  the  moral  instru- 
mentality by  which  God  seeks  out  His  elect,  the 
Spirit  of  God  making  them  efficient  thereto ;  can 
this  be  shown  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  will, 
wisdom,  or  Word  of  God?  We  should  have  no 
objection  to  let  them  rest  on  this  ground,  espe- 
cially as  God  himself  has  been  pleased  so  to  em- 
ploy them ;  and  this  fact  one  would  think  might 
well  induce  us  so  to  use  them. 

But  we  must  conclude  with  a  few  words  on 
the  MANNER  or  SPIRIT  under  the  influence  of 
which  the  Apostle  sought  to  accomplish  his  work 
— "commending  ourselves,"  he  says,  "to  every 
man's  conscience  in  the  sight  of  God"  It  is  very 
evident  from  this  declaration  of  the  Apostle,  that, 
however  great  the  number  of  persons  to  whom  he 
addressed  himself,  he  did  not  lose  his  Master 
among  them,  but  kept  the  eye  of  his  faith  stead- 
fastly fixed  upon  the  God  whom  he  served ;  and 
among  the  many  important  purposes  which  this 
would  accomplish  in  his  soul,  it  would  certainly 
lift  him  above  the  smile  or  frown  of  the  creature, 
and  enable  him  to  look  at  man,  simply  as  man. 
24* 


282  LESSONS  FKOM  JESUS. 

Kings  or  princes  might  be  among  his  auditors ; 
but  what  could  they  be  in  his  estimation  compared 
with  the  great  God  in  whose  presence  he  stood  ? 
The  realization  also  of  the  Divine  presence  would 
also  impart  fervour  and  becoming  solemnity  to 
his  speech.  How  important  is  the  former ;  while 
in  reference  to  the  latter  what  is  preaching  with- 
out it,  but  a  sacred  pantomime,  a  religious  make- 
believe?  There  is,  however,  a  professional  so- 
lemnity put  on  by  some,  and  which  is  as  offensive 
to  God  as  the  levity  of  the  fool ;  like  all  unreal 
things,  it  is  formal,  dead,  cold,  uninteresting,  and 
uninfluential.  And  there  is  a  solemnity  which  is 
sacred,  sweet,  cheerful,  enlivening,  elevating, 
instructive,  subduing,  and  joyous — under  the  in- 
fluence of  which  both  the  speaker  and  hearer  may 
smile,  sing,  and  even  laugh.  We  suppose  it  is 
so  in  the  temple  of  heaven,  and  no  less  in  the 
spiritual  church  here,  which  is  but  the  porch  of 
that  temple.  This  solemnity,  however,  does  not 
arise  out  of  a  man's  natural  formation,  but  out  of 
the  state  of  his  soul  before  God,  which  leads  him 
to  be  natural  because  earnest,  and  the  influence 
of  His  Holy  Spirit,  so  that  it  is  just  one  of  those 
things  which  cannot  be  counterfeited.  The  very 
reality  and  earnestness  of  some  preachers,  to- 
gether with  the  sacred  joyousness  they  feel  in 
their  Master's  work,  will  sometimes  so  influence 
their  manner  and  words  as  to  provoke  a  smile, 
which  is  frequently  but  expressive  of  spiritual 


APOSTOLIC   PKEACHING.  283 

perception  and  enjoyment  of  the  truth  so  ad- 
vanced ;  and  this  shows  the  folly  of  those  who 
condemn  without  discrimination  what  they  ima- 
gine to  be  inconsistent,  not  with  the  work  of 
God,  but  with  certain  preconceived  notions  en- 
gendered by  monotonous  ignorance  or  the  canons 
of  respectable  formality.  Such  persons  very 
frequently  most  require  the  very  things  they  con- 
demn in  a  preacher.  So  completely  are  they 
asleep  in  the  grave  of  formality  that  the  very 
voice  of  God  himself,  as  it  awakens  the  dead  by 
their  side,  is  offensive  to  them,  because  it  arouses 
them  from  their  slumber,  disturbs  their  sacerdotal 
vestments,  and  removes  that  darling  order  of 
things  upon  which  they  have  stretched  themselves 
for  so  many  years  with  all  the  settled  complacency 
and  serenity  of  death.  But  the  holy  cheerfulness 
of  the  saint,  and  the  smile  that  lights  up  his  face 
beneath  the  beaming  forth  of  God's  love  throuo'h 
the  truth  and  His  Spirit,  must  not  be  confounded 
with  the  senseless  titter  of  levity.  The  Apostle 
never  attempted  to  provoke  a  smile  apart  from  a 
moral  purpose.  He  was  neither  a  sanctimonious 
formalist,  nor  a  religious  buffoon.  He,  at  least, 
could  not  perceive  anything  in  the  great  verities 
he  proclaimed — the  state  of  man — the  cross  of 
Christ,  heaven  or  hell — to  excite  laughter  in  the 
presence  of  the  great  God  whom  he  served ;  and 
he  forgot  not  one  who  had  said,  "Behold,  I  am 
against  them  that  prophesy  false  dreams,  saith 


284:  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

the  Lord,  and  do  tell  them,  and  cause  my  people 
to  err  by  their  lies,  and  by  their  lightness ;  yet  I 
sent  them  not,  nor  commanded  them :  therefore 
they  shall  not  profit  this  people  at  all,  saith  the 
Lord." — Jer.  xxiii.  32.  May  the  important  truths 
we  have  so  slightly  touched  have  our  most  prayer- 
ful attention! 


"  Lord,  preserve  us  in  the  faith, 

Suffer  nought  to  drive  us  thence, 
Neither  Satan,  scorn,  nor  death ; 

Be  our  God  and  our  defence, 
Though  the  flesh  resist  Thy  will, 
Let  Thy  word  be  stronger  still. 

And  when  we  at  last  must  die, 
Oh,  assure  the  sinking  heart 

Of  the  glorious  realm  on  high, 
Where  thou  healest  every  smart, 

Of  the  joys  unspeakable, 

Where  our  God  would  have  us  dwell" 


"A  school  has  risen  up  at  Oxford  and  elsewhere,  in  which 
some  of  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  especially  the 
atonement  and  the  inspiration  and  authority  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, are,  if  not  absolutely  denied,  yet  undermined.  The  atone- 
ment means,  as  they  teach  it,  nothing  more  than  a  manifestation 
of  Divine  love,  and  the  putting  away  of  sin  by  its  moral  power 
over  the  soul,  but  which  has  no  reference  to  the  authority  and 
majesty  of  the  law  and  the  rectitude  of  the  Divine  government ; 
as  held  by  them,  it  is  merely  a  wonderful  instance  of  fortitude 
and  patience  under  suffering  of  the  Man  of  sorrows,  and  its  whole 
efficacy  lies  in  the  influence  of  those  virtues  on  the  human  con- 
science, but  not  in  his  death  being  an  expiation  of  guilt,  a  vicarious 
sacrifice  of  the  Son  of  God.  Mercy,  according  to  their  view,  is 
the  only  attribute  of  the  Divine  nature  displayed  in  the  stu- 
pendous transactions  of  Calvary,  while  the  manifestation  of 
public  justice  has  no  provision  made  for  it  in  their  view  of  the 
scheme  of  human  redemption.  Thus  while  the  name  of  atone- 
ment is  retained,  and  even  that  reluctantly,  the  true  scriptural 
idea,  as  shadowed  forth  in  the  sacrifices  of  the  Old  Testament 
and  asserted  in  the  pages  of  the  New,  is  denied  and  lost.  This, 
I  fear,  is  the  error  which  is  insidiously  corrupting  the  theology 
of  some  Episcopalians  and  Nonconformists.  From  the  writers 
of  this  class  we  hear  a  good  deal  about  '  enlightened  and  liberal 
opinions,'  'a  rational  interpretation  of  Scriptures,'  'freedom  from 
the  prejudices  of  the  schools,'  'extreme  views  of  inspiration,' 
'  the  narrow  prejudices  which  trammel  the  noble  spirit  of  theology 
by  creeds  and  catechisms.'  And  we  have  been  lately  told, 
'  Science  is  the  basis  of  a  rational  theology,  which  is  to  give  the 
death-blow  to  superstition.'  All  this  high-sounding  praise  of 
modern  illumination,  pronounced  as  it  is  by  men  whose  genius 
or  whose  style  gives  enchantment  to  their  words,  is  seductive  to 
those  young  and  ardent  minds  which  are  exulting  in  their  free- 
dom from  the  fetters  of  old  systems,  and  is,  I  fear,  leading  some 
astray  from  the  way  of  truth." — REV.  J.  A.  JAMES. 


nsife 


OR, 

THE  WHOLE  COUNSEL  OF  GOD. 


"  Wherefore  I  take  you  to  record  this  day  that  I  am  pure 
from  the  Hood  of  all  men.  For  I  have  not  shunned  to  declare 
unto  you  all  the  counsel  of  God." — Acts  xx.  26,  27. 

WE  should  never  forget  that  we  live  in  a  world 
which  produced  a  Judas,  and  that  it  is  the  place 
where  Christ  was  crucified ;  that  the  saddest  epi- 
sodes of  its  history  may  find  a  place  in  our  own 
experience,  and  that  the  worst  done  by  the  worst 
may  gather  a  double  emphasis  from  our  lives. 
This  world,  as  of  old,  has  a  fair  lip  but  a  foul  heart ; 
and  while  professing  to  love  the  truth,  it  behoves 
us  to  remember,  that,  in  the  person  of  Christ,  it 
did  with  truth  what  it  did  with  virtue — hung  it 
up  between  two  thieves.  By  pretty  words,  there- 
fore, we  ought  not  to  be  deceived ;  but,  if  God  has 
opened  our  hearts,  as  he  did  Lydia's  of  old,  to 
receive  His  words,  we  should  buckle  on  our  armour 


288  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

and  prepare  for  the  battle.  Men,  having  departed 
from  God,  are  at  a  distance  from  the  truth.  He 
speaks  to  them,  but  they  do  not  care  to  listen  to 
His  voice ;  or,  when  they  hear,  their  enmity  is  too 
frequently  the  only  result.  Should  our  voice, 
therefore,  be  in  any  degree  the  echo  of  the  great 
Lawgiver's,  we  may  witness  a  similar  result.  From 
the  language  of  the  Apostle  Paul,  it  is  evident  that 
this  was  his  experience ;  be  affirmed,  indeed,  in 
another  place,  that  the  preaching  of  the  Cross  was 
to  the  Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and  to  the  Greeks 
foolishness;  and  from  his  solemn  appeal  to  the 
consciences  of  his  hearers,  above  cited,  it  is  plain 
that  there  are  certain  truths  contained  in  the 
Gospel  of  Christ  to  which  the  minds  of  men  in 
general  are  greatly  opposed.  "We  may  very  briefly 
notice  some  of  those  peculiarities  of  the  Gospel 
system  towards  which  men  ever  have  and  continue 
to  manifest  great  enmity.  And  there  are  two 
doctrines  plainly  revealed  which  generally  develop 
this  latent  tendency — Divine  sovereignty  as  it  is 
manifested  and  reigns  in  the  salvation  of  man,  and 
human  responsibility.  Publish  the  former  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  latter,  and  men  will  not  find  much 
fault ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  the  direct  road  to 
popularity  with  numbers;  for  among  the  many 
bad  things  sin  has  introduced  into  man's  heart, 
there  are  all  the  elements  of  a  Mohammedan  fatal- 
ism, and  he  loves  to  be  told  that  God  so  reigns  as 
to  supersede  all  his  duties  and  anxieties  in  refer- 


POSITIVE   THEOLOGY.  289 

ence  to  his  eternal  destiny  and  that  of  others; 
that  as  a  blind  man  cannot  see,  so  neither  can  he 
understand ;  that  as  a  lame  man  cannot  walk,  so 
neither  can  he  love  God.  Poor  sinner !  Ah,  this 
suits  the  enmity  of  such  poor ;  this  indirect  vindi- 
cation of  their  wilful  ignorance  and  hatred  of  the 
light.  And,  on  the  other  hand,  those  who  fully 
declare  the  latter  while  they  repudiate  the  former, 
swim  bravely  with  the  tide;  for  men  are  self- 
righteous  and  proud,  and  care  not  how  responsible 
they  are  made,  so  long  as  God  is  not  put  above 
them  in  the  matter  of  their  salvation,  and  they  are 
allowed,  in  some  degree,  to  share  the  glory  with 
Him. 

The  doctrine,  too,  of  divine  and  special  influence 
is  exceedingly  offensive  to  many,  especially  to 
mere  formalists.  Such  will  talk  about  religion ; 
and,  although  they  think  little,  and  never  really 
pray,  are  very  oracular,  and  their  opinion  is  quite 
as  good  as  any  one's.  "  Special  influence  !  Non- 
sense ;  we  rely  upon  the  Word  of  Almighty  God : 
no  one  but  ignorant  and  superstitious  people  talk 
so.  Special  influence !  Why,  that  would  involve 
a  change  of  which  we  are  not  conscious ;  therefore, 
down  with  it.  Special  influence !  Why,  that 
would  involve  the  doctrine  of  special  love,  and 
make  God  a  respecter  of  persons ;  mere  enthu- 
siasm !" 

It  would  be  very  instructive  to  trace  out  how  it 
is  that  the  grand  peculiarities  of  the  Gospel: — 
25 


290  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

the  precious,  purifying,  exalting,  and  ennobling 
thoughts  of  God^-are  so  alien  to  the  natural 
mind ;  but  such  is  the  fact ;  and,  according  to  the 
initiative,  representative  men  of  the  present  day, 
our  fathers  made  a  great  mistake  in  giving  so 
much  prominence  to  them.  The  sanctified  intel- 
lect of  the  past  is  with  them  a  very  common, 
strange,  eccentric  thing ;  and  could  the  glorified 
Church  once  more  robe  herself  in  the  garments 
of  frailty,  and  come  into  this  world  again  on  a 
pilgrimage  in  quest  of  the  truth,  she  would  have 
to  sit  at  the  feet  of  some  modern  divines  who  have 
had  little  time  for  self-communion,  and  less  incli- 
nation to  pray ;  who  have  derived  their  inspiration 
from  the  pages  of  Carlyle  or  the  rhapsodies  of 
Emerson ;  whose  especial  vocation  and  mission  ap- 
pears to  be  to  sneer  at  the  orthodox,  to  sympathise 
with  error,  and  to  transform  its  egotistical  progeny 
into  something  transcendent ;  and  without  shame 
constantly,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  libel  and  mis- 
represent better  men  than  themselves. 

The  manner,  too,  in  which  God  would  have  His 
truth  brought  before  men,  is  frequently  very 
offensive  to  them.  They  love  to  have  it  intro- 
duced with  a  long  apologetic  preamble,  and  many 
polite  excuses ;  as  a  trembling  culprit  it  must  ever 
stand  at  the  bar  of  their  reason ;  and  hence,  where 
there  are  not  the  strong  convictions  arising  out 
of  spiritual  life,  the  temptation  not  only  to  bring 
forth  but  little  truth,  but  even  to  present  that 


POSITIVE  THEOLOGY.  291 

little  in  such  a  form  as  to  rob  it  of  all  its  influence 
upon  the  conscience,  frequently  prevails.  But 
can  it  be  right  to  treat  man  with  such  great  con- 
sideration, and  God  with  so  little — to  bring  God's 
thoughts  before  those  whose  minds  are  full  of 
pride  and  enmity,  who  seldom  read  His  Word 
and  never  pray,  as  so  many  coins  which  they  are 
to  chink  upon  the  counter  of  depraved  reason, 
lame  logic,  bald  statements,  crude  notions,  worldly 
systems,  and  idle  speculations,  before  they  admit 
their  value  or  receive  them,  assuming  that  the 
carnal  mind  as  such  is  competent  to  pronounce  at 
once  a  righteous  verdict  upon  the  decisions  of  the 
great  Eternal?  The  Apostle  would  not  speak 
thus,  but  sought  the  prayers  of  his  brethren  that 
he  might  speak  boldly  as  he  ought  to  speak ;  and 
those  who  declare  what  they  have  tasted  and 
handled  of  the  "Word  of  God,  will  never  Ihus 
compliment  the  creature  at  the  expense  of  the 
Creator.  But  let  not  the  people  of  God  be  de- 
ceived ;  those  who  speak  thus  as  they  ought  to 
speak,  will  ever  be  exposed  to  the  educated  scorn 
of  the  ignorant,  and  the  malice  of  the  would-be 
Christian  leaders  of  transcendent  doubters,  whose 
sorrows  and  aspirations  do  not  terminate  in  Christ 
or  His  exaltation,  but  in  an  ethical  apotheosis  of 
themselves,  their  marvellous  intuitions  and  theo- 
logical vagaries,  or  a  Byronic  dirge  over  their 
own  inevitable  misfortunes,  but  which  leaves  them 
still  the  slaves  of  sin  in  some  form  or  other,  but 


292  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS 

especially  in  bondage  to  the  world  and  intellectual 
pride. 

From  the  language  of  the  Apostle,  then,  we  may 
infer  that  there  are  certain  truths  in  the  revealed 
will  of  God  to  which  the  natural  mind  is  much 
opposed ;  and  that  on  this  account  there  is  a 
temptation  presented  to  those  who  are  engaged  in 
its  proclamation  to  keep  them  back,  and  that  in 
some  cases  such  is  the  actual  result.  Sometimes 
this  arises  from  the  fact  that  those  whose  duty  it 
is  to  make  known  the  truth,  have  never  received 
it  themselves ;  they  have  taken  to  the  ministry  as 
the  physician  takes  to  medicine,  or  the  ^olicitor 
to  the  laws,  imply  for  a  living.  These,  of  course, 
are  concerned  only  for  peace,  ease,  and  respect- 
ability. Ministers  ought  to  be  raised  above  hard- 
ship and  privation — of  course  they  should ;  but  to 
engage  in  the  service  of  Christ,  under  the  influence 
of  such  motives  and  such  anticipations,  never  to 
have  asked  soberly  and  prayerfully,  whether  for 
the  sake  of  truth  and  fidelity  to  Christ  all  could 
be  sacrificed,  and  the  path  marked  out  by  the 
Apostle  (2  Cor.  vi.  4 — 10)  accepted,  marks  the 
character  of  the  hireling,  and  not  the  man  of  God. 

Some  think  that  certain  truths  should  be  sup- 
pressed for  the  sake  of  union,  as  though  God  would 
have  even  this  built  upon  the  demoralisation  of 
His  servants. 

Others  imagine  they  shall  be  more  useful  by 
keeping  back  some  of  God's  thoughts,  though  the 


POSITIVE   THEOLOGY.  293 

Apostles  ever  sought  to  lay  hold  of  their  hearers 
by  the  whole  of  God's  counsel,  and  Christ  declared, 
"  Ye  shall  know  the  truth,  and  the  truth  shall 
make  you  free." 

Some  imagine  they  think  deeply,  and  have  more 
faith  in  their  own  thoughts  than  God's  declarations. 
Truth  is  a  strain  of  music :  certain  doctrines  are 
discordant ;  they  must  never  be  heard.  But  God 
has  written  the  notes;  you  are  simply  to  play 
them,  leaving  the  harmony  or  discord  with  him. 
Perhaps  the  music  is  to  be  heard  at  a  greater  dis- 
tance than  you  imagine ;  or,  perhaps,  your  ear  is 
not  quite  in  tune ;  would  it  not,  at  least,  be  safer 
to  mistrust  it  than  the  notes  ?  Years  ago,  through 
the  bad  results  attending  an  over-statement  of 
certain  doctrines,  and  the  almost  total  abnegation 
of  others,  it  was  thought  that  the  collective  wis- 
dom of  the  Fathers  could  be  improved ;  the  meta- 
physical screw  was  applied  to  certain  doctrines  to 
squeeze  them  into  such  a  form  as  that  other  truths 
might  have  a  more  fraternal  juxtaposition  with 
them  in  the  mind  of  certain  persons,  and  that  cer- 
tain dangerous  symptoms  affecting  the  body  of 
Christ  might  be  removed.  The  motive  was  good 
—doubtless  there  were  things  to  be  deplored — but 
the  process  was  dangerous.  The  minds  who  ap- 
plied the  screw  were  spiritual,  matured,  and  vigo- 
rous ;  others  have  since  found  it  more  convenient 
to  leave  those  same  obstreperous  truths  altogether. 
What,  indeed,  was  wanted  then,  is  the  want  now, 
25* 


294  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

the  old  theology — more  faith  in  God's  thoughts 
than  man's  interpretation.  The  church  robbed 
of  her  food,  or  partially  fed,  must  lose  her  strength. 
The  whole  truth  must  be  preached,  not  as  an  expe- 
riment, but  in  faith  and  from  a  heartfelt  know- 
ledge of  its  power ;  not  dealt  out  in  infinitesimal 
doses  as  a  dangerous  thing  from  God,  requiring 
to  be  corrected  by  our  wisdom,  but  as  the  bread 
of  the  soul.  Semi-converted  men,  by  vapid  de- 
clamations, intellectual  platitudes,  the  convolu- 
tions of  the  imagination  and  flowers  of  rhetoric, 
and  even  by  railing  at  and  misrepresenting  cer- 
tain doctrines,  may  gather  crowds  to  follow  them 
who  will  not  follow  Christ  nor  receive  his  words. 
But  to  gather  a  different  people,  and  produce  a 
different  result,  the  whole  Gospel  must  live  in  the 
affections,  as  the  blood  dwells  in  the  heart,  and 
well  forth  from  the  lip  as  a  living  stream.  The 
truth  thus  preached  will  be  carried  by  the  Holy 
Spirit  into  the  heart ;  and  like  as  the  sap  of  a 
living  tree  flows  into  the  branches  to  cover  it 
with  leaves  and  fruit,  so  will  it  appear  in  the  life, 
and  a  spiritual,  vigorous  character  will  be  formed, 
which,  rock-like,  will  oppose  itself  to  the  torrents 
of  error,  pride,  and  worldliness,  which  ever  spread 
themselves  around  the  feet  of  the  heaven-bound 
pilgrim.  If  there  is  not  enough  truth,  however, 
in  the  ministry  to  form  and  sustain  such  a  cha- 
racter, it  is  useless  for  us  to  complain,  or  to  en- 
deavour, by  mere  practical  talk,  to  produce  a  re- 


POSITIVE  THEOLOGY.  295 

vival.  The  fault  is  with  ourselves.  Let  us  seek 
to  "comprehend  with  all  saints  what  is  the 
breadth,  and  length,  and  depth,  and  height,  and 
to  know  the  love  of  Christ  which  passeth  know- 
ledge;" and  having  drunk  of  this  stream,  let  us 
carry  the  living  waters  to  others,  and  beneath  the 
blessing  of  God's  Spirit,  the  waste  places  will  soon 
be  made  glad,  and  the  wilderness  rejoice  and 
blossom  as  the  rose. 

Love  of  popularity  may  in  some  cases  lead  to 
the  keeping  back  of  certain  doctrines,  or  to  the 
mind's  dancing  over  the  surface  of  truth,  like  the 
heathen  goddess,  whose  feet  were  so  light  that  she 
could  pass  over  a  field  of  standing  corn  without 
shaking  out  a  single  grain — and  this  love  of 
popularity  impeaches  different  truths  in  different 
places.  Where  the  people  have  been  well  fami- 
liarised with  the  doctrines  of  Divine  sovereignty, 
electing  love  and  particular  redemption,  there  can 
be  but  little  temptation  to  keep  them  back — but 
there  are  others  equally  plainly  revealed;  are 
these  proclaimed?  He  who  said,  "No  man  can 
come  unto  Me  except  the  Father  who  sent  Me 
draw  him,"  said  also,  "  Ye  will  not  come  unto  Me 
that  ye  might  have  life,"  and  cried,  "  Eepent  and 
believe  the  Gospel  "—are  these  and  other  kindred 
declarations  heard?  In  other  places  they  are 
constantly  iterated,  but  what  has  become  of  the 
doctrines  ?  On  both  sides,  therefore,  the  tempta- 
tion to  keep  back  part  of  the  truth  exists,  and 


296  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

love  of  popularity  on  both  sides  may  prevail  to 
the  accomplishment  of  this  sad  result.  Let  not, 
therefore,  the  hearer  judge  of  the  extent  to  whicli 
it  prevails  by  his  own  opinions  merely,  but  by 
the  unerring  Word  of  God.  The  language  of 
the  Apostle  simply  points  us  to  a  fact  that, 
under  certain  circumstances,  some  may  shun  to 
declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God ;  so  that  it 
becomes  the  spiritually  matured,  at  least,  to  be 
watchful  that  they  are  not  cheated  out  of  the 
Bread  of  heaven,  either  by  ignorance  or  want  of 
fidelity  in  those  who  preach  the  Gospel. 

We  must  pass  on,  however,  to  notice  the  RE- 
SULT of  this  keeping  back  of  the  truth,  which  is 
fearful  indeed,  and  such  as  no  words  can  ade- 
quately describe.  The  Apostle  could  say  that 
he  was  pure  from  the  blood  of  all  men,  for  that 
he  had  not  shunned  to  declare  all  the  counsel  of 
God  ;  the  inference  is,  that  had  he  not  done  so  he 
would  have  been  guilty  of  their  blood  ;  and, 
observe,  not  by  the  proclamation  of  positive 
error,  but  by  keeping  back  part  of  the  truth,  by 
not  declaring  it  An  awful  negative  is  this  ;  this, 
I  suppose,  will  be  admitted,  is  "  Negative  The- 
ology." Well,  it  has  done  many  things — won- 
ders, no  doubt — and  it  will  do  more.  It  has  set 
up  Christian  men  as  a  target  for  doubting,  intel- 
lectual sharp-shooters,  who  have  just  sense  enough 
to  know  how  to  wound  but  not  to  understand 
them.  It  has  prepared  many  to  sympathise  with 


POSITIVE   THEOLOGY.  297 

and  receive  anything,  rather  than  the  humbling 
doctrines  of  the  Cross.  It  has  imparted  to  shal- 
•  low,  superficial  thinkers  an  opinion  that  they  are 
mental  giants ;  and  that  they  have  a  mission,  and 
which  appears  to  be  to  affect  great  magnanimity, 
humility,  wonderful  conflicts,  and  transcendent 
spirituality;  to  retail  out  the  subtle  poison  of 
misrepresentation  ;  to  point  the  finger  of  scorn  at 
the  venerable  temple  of  truth,  and  lead,  helter- 
skelter,  all  who  have  achieved  a  doubt — their 
darling  children — to  a  religious  mirage  of  fanjas- 
tic  forms  and  gorgeous  tints,  and  sparkling  waters 
flowing  above  the  dry  and  barren  sands  of  specu- 
lation, spiritual  unitarianism,  and  incipient  infi- 
delity ;  and  it  is  to  please  such  men  that  we  are 
to  shape  our  words  I  Truly,  Negative  Theology 
has  done  something,  but  there  are  some  things  it 
cannot  do.  It  cannot  make  a  Christian,  nor  feed 
him  when  made  ;  but  it  can  do  something — yes  ; 
it  can  damn  the  soul !  So  thought,  believed,  and 
wrote  the  Apostle,  and  solemnly  appealed  to 
heaven  that  he  was  not  thus  guilty. 

"  Pure  from  the  blood  of  souls"  It  is  an  awful 
thing  to  have  the  blood  of  the  body  upon  us,  but 
a  much  heavier  burden  to  have  the  destruction 
of  souls  upon  us.  Could  we  have  witnessed  the 
murderous  Sepoys  as  they  came  forth  fresh  from 
the  slaughter  of  our  fellow-countrywomen,  stained 
with  the  purple  tide  of  their  life,  with  what  abhor- 
rence we  should  have  gazed  upon  them.  With 


298  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

how  much  greater  abhorrence  must  God  look 
upon  the  man  through  whose  want  of  fidelity  to 
the  truth,  souls  are  cast  into  hell.  A  soul  lost ! 
What  can  we  say,  when  we  think  of  the  value 
which  God  Himself  has  put  upon  it — of  its  vast 
powers  and  capabilities  ?  To  think  that  it  may 
be  and  has  been  lost  through  want  of  ministerial 
fidelity,  may  well  make  us  cry  mightily  to  God 
to  make  and  keep  us  faithful.  Well  might  the 
Apostle  exclaim,  "  Woe  is  me  if  I  preach  not  the 
Gpspel !  "  But,  reader,  there  is  another  inference 
having  reference  to  you.  If  you  hear  the  Gospel 
fully  preached,  and  perish,  the  result  is  not 
through  the  preacher ;  and  as  it  cannot  be  from 
God,  it  must  be  therefore  owing  to  YOURSELF  ! 
Your  blood  must  be  upon  your  own  head.  Ob, 
think  of  this,  pray  over  it :  what  shall  it  profit 
you  though  you  gain  the  whole  world  and  lose 
your  own  soul  ? 

The  subject  admonishes  us  : — 

1.  To  take  heed  HOW  we   hear. — "Take  heed 
how  ye  hear,"  said  Christ,  and  that  again  and 
again ;  our  hearing  has  to  do  not  only  with  our 
present  but  our  eternal  destiny.     Oh,  with  what 
humility,  prayer,  reverence,  and  dependence  upon 
God's  Spirit  should  we  listen  to  the  Gospel  of 
Christ ! 

2.  To  take  heed  WHOM  we  hear. — All  men  have 
not  faith,  and  it  is  certain  that  all  men  have  not 
the  truth ;   and  even  good  men  may  for  a  time 


POSITIVE  THEOLOGY.  299 

yield  to  temptation ;  the  fear  of  man  may  so 
smite  them  with  spiritual  paralysis,  that  the  arrow 
of  truth  shall  be  kept  at  their  side  or  fall  power- 
less from  their  hands.  If,  therefore,  we  would 
not  waste  our  time  or  lose  our  souls,  we  must 
take  heed  who  we  hear.  This  world's  gentleman 
sometimes  overcomes  the  man  of  God.  The  con- 
ventionalisms of  respectable  life  rob  his  sword 
of  its  edge — love  of  praise  makes  it  a  beautiful 
sheath,  while  a  fussy  politeness  takes  the  place 
of  manly,  faithful,  disinterested  love. 

3.  To  seek  to  know  the  whole  truth. — This  will 
not  ensure  our  spirituality  of  itself  but  there  can 
be  no  great  spirituality  without  it.      The  blood 
requires  all  the  elements  of  which  the  air  is  com- 
posed to  effect  its  purification,  and  so  the  soul 
requires  all   the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel — the 
whole  truth,  in  order  to  its  spiritual  health  and 
sanctification.      In  the  hands  of  the  Spirit  it  is 
the  vital  sap  of  its  strength  and  purity.     "  Sanc- 
tify them  through  thy  truth,  thy  word  is  truth," 
said  the  dying  Eedeemer.     We  cannot  enlarge, 
but  ponder  and  pray  over — Eph.  iii.  17,  18,  19 ; 
Heb.  vi.  1,  and  v.  .12 ;  Phil.  i.  9,  10,  11. 

4.  To  receive  the  ivhole  truth. — To  know  it  sim- 
ply will  not  save  or  sanctify.     The  poison  of  sin 
is  in  us ;  the  truth  must  be  in  us  too.     This  must 
be  our  constant  and  abiding  concern.     When, 
therefore,  we  hear  that  which  is  new  to  us,  or,  as 
we  imagine,  opposed  to  other  doctrines,  let  us  be 


300  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

cautious  lest  pride,  prejudice,  or  interest  should 
lead  us  to  reject  any  part  of  the  counsel  of  God 
against  ourselves — lest  we  ignorantly  quarrel  with 
a  friend  who  is  anxious  simply  to  bless  us,  or 
reject  the  waters  of  life  because  they  flow  through 
channels  which  we  approve  not. 

5.  To  communicate  the  whole  truth.  —  There  is 
not  so  much  of  truth  in  the  world  that  we  can  be 
excused  in  keeping  back  a  part.  Responsibility 
is  not  confined  to  the  pulpit  in  this  matter:  "Ye 
are  my  witnesses,  saith  the  Lord."  We  are  not 
to  trust  to  ministers  to  do  this  work  exclusively, 
nor  yet  to  deacons,  for  these  sometimes  become 
so  corrupted  by  public  life  and  carnal  policy,  that 
they  care  but  little  for  the  whole  counsel  of  God, 
and  think  more  of  what  will  bring  worldly  pres- 
tige and  prosperity.  Such  do  not  look  at  man 
as  man  simply,  nor  truth  as  truth.  The  people 
must  do  part  of  the  work  themselves,  or  God 
will  hold  them  responsible  for  it.  It  is  not  to 
seats  of  learning,  to  learned  men  or  preachers, 
that  we  must  look  for  the  preservation  of  the 
truth,  but  to  all  who  have  felt  and  proved  its 
power,  the  people  of  God  in  general — and  hence 
all  believers  are  exhorted  ato  contend  earnestly 
for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints."  To 
ubuy  the  truth  and  sell  it  not" — to  be  willing  to 
part  with  anything  to  get  the  truth,  and  when  it 
is  once  possessed  we  are  never  to  part  with  it. 
"  Take  fast  hold  of  instruction,  keep  her,  for  she 


POSITIVE  THEOLOGY.  301 

is  thy  life."  Let  us  mark  well  the  Apostle's 
teaching,  that  the  church's  danger  does  not  so 
much  arise  from  positive  error  as  from  the  Popish 
doctrine  of  RESERVE.  Let  us  remember  that 
Truth  is  as  much  a  stranger  in  the  earth  as  ever 
she  was,  and  that  there  are  as  many  temptations 
to  be  faithless  to  her  claims  as  ever;  that,  like 
her  Lord,  she  often  wanders  here  in  poverty  and 
nakedness,  frequently  misunderstood,  misrepre- 
sented, and  despised.  Oh  happy  he  who  loves 
her  at  all  times,  and  is  not  ashamed  to  stand 
identified  with  her !  his  path  may  be  rough,  but 
his  end  shall  be  peace.  Are  you  ashamed,  reader, 
of  Truth  in  her  robes  of  sorrow  and  humiliation? 
Thou  shalt  never  see  her  in  her  exaltation  in  the 
fair  palace  of  her  Lord ;  for  thus  saith  the  Saviour 
— "Whosoever  shall  be  ashamed  of  Me  and  of 
my  word,  in  this  adulterous  and  sinful  generation, 
of  him  also  shall  the  Son  of  Man  be  ashamed 
when  He  cometh  in  the  glory  of  His  Father  with 
the  holy  angels." 

"  0  God  of  truth,  whose  living  word 

Upholds  whate'er  had  breath, 
Look  down  on  Thy  creation,  Lord, 
Enslaved  by  sin  and  death. 

Set  up  Thy  standard,  Lord,  that  we, 

That  claim  a  heavenly  birth, 
May  march  with  Thee  to  smite  the  lies 

That  vex  Thy  groaning  earth. 

26 


302  LESSONS  FKOM  JESUS. 

Mount  Thy  white  horse,  thou  Word  of  God, 

Thy  blood-stained  vesture  don : 
To  the  last  strife  with  death  and  hell 

Lead  Thy  great  army  on. 

Ah  1  would  we  join  that  blest  array, 

And  follow,  in  the  might 
Of  Him,  the  Faithful  and  the  True, 

In  raiment  clean  and  white. 

We  fight  for  Truth,  we  fight  for  God, 

Poor  slaves  of  li£s  and  sin ; 
He  who  would  fight  for  Thee  on  earth 

Must  first  be  true  within. 

Then,  God  of  Truth,  for  whom  we  long, 

Thou  who  wilt  hear  our  prayer, 
Do  Thine  own  battle  in  our  hearts, 

And  slay  the  falsehood  there. 

Thou  sword  which  goeth  from  His  mouth, 
Smite  these  false  hearts  in  twain ; 

Here  burn,  thou  never-dying  fire, 
Fall  on,  thou  fiery  rain ! 

Still  smite!  still  burn!  till  nought  is  left 

But  God's  own  truth  and  love ; 
Then,  Lord,  as  morning  dew  comes  down, 

Rest  on  us  from  above. 

Yea,  come !  then,  tried  as  in  the  fire, 

From  every  lie  set  free, 
Thy  perfect  truth  shall  dwell  in  us, 
And  we  shall  live  in  Thee." 

T.  HUGHES,  ESQ., 
"Lays  of  the  Sanctuary" 


"  Oh  to  be 

Dauntless,  devoted  in  the  war  of  Life — 
Neither  to  sorrow,  pain,  nor  trouble  down 
Bending  thy  colours,  but  march  right  through  all, 
Obedient  to  the  voice  that  says,   '  Go  on ! ' 
Oh,  there  are  shot  and  shell  that  rend  the  heart, 
And  swords  that  pierce  the  soul,  and  pangs  to  which 
A  bayonet- thrust  were  mercy — wounds  within, 
That  perchance  bleed  not  in  the  sight  of  men — 
Yet  ah !  that  will  not  heal.     Oh,  to  be  strong ! 
And  with  a  faith  enduring  all  things,  still 
To  look  to  Thee,  and  battle  stoutly  through, 
Ne'er  growing  weary  of  the  glorious  strife !  " 

"  It  is  not  strength  of  body,  natural  courage,  liberal  education, 
bright  parts,  or  sparkling  genius,  that  can  make  a  truly  great 
man.  Hence  this  seeming  contradiction,  yet  sterling  truth,  great 
men  are  not  always  great." — Solitude  Sweetened. 


OB, 

A   SUBLIME   LIFE. 


"  For  me  to  live  is  Christ."— Phil.  i.  21. 

THE  religion  of  the  Apostle  Paul  was  not  an  ac- 
cident of  an  accident;  nor  a  something  extrinsic 
to  himself— it  was  not  like  a  little  dust  upon  his 
exterior,  to  be  brushed  away  occasionally  by  acci- 
dent or  design;  a  thing  to  be  removed  by  the 
smallest  amount  of  friction  if  rightly  applied ;  he 
did  not  carry  it  about  like  his  clothes,  and  think 
it  quite  right  to  cast  it  aside  now  and  then,  as 
might  best  suit  his  purpose — no ;  his  religion 
appears  thoroughly  to  have  embraced  him  as  well 
as  he  it ;  it  dwelt  in  him  as  the  air  in  his  lungs, 
and  the  blood  in  his  body,  so  that  his  enemies 
found  that,  if  his  religion  was  to  be  got  rid  of,  they 
must  get  rid  of  him:  Now,  many  would  consider 
this  very  inconvenient ;  and  yet,  having  less  reli- 
gion than  this,  all  real  Christians  would  admit 
26* 


o06  LESSONS   FROM   JESUS. 

that  we  have  just  none  at  all.  Now,  there  has 
been  a  good  deal  of  disputation  among  many  about 
the  objective  and  subjective  aspect  of  religion; 
but,  according  to  the  Apostle,  we  certainly  must 
all  of  us  be  subjective  enough  to  know  that  unless 
the  motive,  power,  and  spring  of  all  our  efforts  be 
the  honour  of  Christ,  our  religion  is  of  little  worth, 
through  whatever  mediums  exhibited,  or  however 
highly  esteemed  by  men.  "  For  me  to  live  is 
Christ,"  said  the  Apostle — brief  but  emphatic 
words ;  but  embodying  one  of  the  highest  myste- 
ries of  heaven,  and  a  stretch  of  God's  love  which 
can  never  be  fully  apprehended  by  men.  The 
great  and  good  of  every  age  have  given  occasional 
utterance  to  sentiments  illustrious  and  sublime; 
but  when  properly  understood  the  Apostle's  words 
give  birth  to  one  which  in  moral  force  and  gran- 
deur surpasses  them  all; — uFor  me  to  live  is 
Christ."  This  was  the  pole  star  of  his  faith  and 
life.  Philosophy  never  dreamt  of  this ;  all  truth 
brought  into  one  person  to  be  unfolded  and  exhi- 
bited by  myriads :  and  Christ  is  not  more  exalted 
above  men  in  general  than  was  the  motive  of  His 
servant  to  those  by  which  mankind  for  the  most 
part  are  actuated.  These  words,  therefore,  of  the 
Apostle  ought  to  be  interesting  to  all  Christians, 
for  his  life  was  undoubtedly  an  illustrious  life, 
pregnant  with  high  and  holy  teaching,  transcend- 
ent purity,  imperishable  principles,  and  a  spiritual 
influence  and  glory  which  can  never  die.  Like 


A  EIGHT   MOTIVE.  307 

the  life  of  its  great  Archetype,  it  passed  on  through 
the  waste  places  of  the  universe,  like  a  beneficent 
river  carrying  life  and  fruitfulness  wherever  it 
came.  Surely  the  source  of  such  a  life  should 
command  our  attention — "For  me  to  live  is 
Christ;"  here  is  the  all-absorbing  centre  of  my 
being,  around  which  all  my  thoughts,  feelings, 
and  efforts  revolve.  For  Christ  to  be  seen  is  for 
Him  to  be  glorified,  and  hence  the  entire  aim  of 
my  life  is  the  exhibition  of  the  SON  OF  GOD  ! 
Oh !  illustrious  aim,  sublime  man !  let  us  endea- 
vour to  ascertain,  in  some  few  particulars,  how  he 
sought  to  accomplish  this  great  result. 

I.  IN  SPIRIT,  BY  THE  GRACES  HE  EXEMPLI- 
FIED. 

1.  Simple  child-like  faith,  or  habitual  reliance 
upon  God. — Man,  as  made  by  God,  was  upright, 
fully  equal  to  all  the  requirements  of  the  law 
under  which  he  was  made,  while  yet  he  was  de- 
pendent upon  God,  both  physically  ^nd  morally. 
Of  this  Adam  was  conscious,  his  experience  as  an 
unfallen  being  was  in  accordance  with  the  facts 
of  his  existence;  hence  he  walked  as  seeing  "Him 
who  is  invisible,7'  and  habitually  acknowledged 
God  and  reclined  upon  Him.  And  this,  so  far 
from  being  a  burden  to  our  first  parent,  was  a 
source  of  joy  and  delight  to  him.  Now,  this  was 
the  great  central  power  of  the  moral  forces  within 
Him,  holding  them  together  in  coherence  and 
harmony,  the  result  of  which  was  peace — the  con- 


308  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

servative  life  of  the  spiritual  system,  the  absence 
of  which  entails  ruin.  Sin,  however,  carried  man 
away  from  God,  and  thus  robbed  him  of  his 
strength ;  under  its  influence,  too,  from  trusting 
in  God  he  came  to  trust  in  himself.  And  hence 
his  misery,  weakness,  timidity,  and  bondage  to 
numberless  fears,  which  make  him  the  slave  of 
circumstances  and  fritter  away  his  life  in  inquie- 
tude and  unrest.  To  this  life  of  self-trust  and 
worship,  however,  he  is  so  wedded  that  the  hand 
of  God  only  can  separate  him  from  it ;  and  hence 
one  object  which  our  Saviour  sought  to  accom- 
plish by  His  life  and  teaching  was  to  show  man 
that  so  far  from  happiness  being  incompatible 
with  a  life  of  dependence  upon  God,  that  such  a 
dependence  was  essential  to  its  very  existence, 
and  that  if  he  would  have  rest  in  himself  he  must 
have  it  in  God.  Hence  Christ  appeared  below 
as  a  poor  man,  and  lived  a  life  of  faith  upon  His 
Father  as  truly  as  the  feeblest  of  His  children. 
And  this  faith  of  the  Great  Teacher  we  behold 
reproduced  by  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  Apostle 
of  the  Gentiles :  we  find  him  constantly  acknow- 
ledging his  God  and  Father,  and  glorying  in  his 
weakness,  "  that  the  power  of  God  may  rest  upon 
him." 

2.  Profound  reverence  for  the  Word  of  God. — 
Our  Saviour  perpetually  referred  to  the  Word  of 
God  as  His  text-book,  guide,  and  directory :  "I 
came,"  He  says,  "  not  to  do  my  'own  will,  but  the 


A   RIGHT   MOTIVE.  309 

will  of  Him  that  sent  me."  And  the  same  spirit 
lived  in  the  Apostle  who  perpetually  supported 
the  doctrines  he  taught  by  the  Word  of  God. 
(Acts  xiii.  17.) 

3.  Disinterested  love  and  self-sacrifice. — The  bur- 
den of  the  law  was  "  thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy 
God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and 
with  all  thy  mind,  and  thy  neighbour  as  thyself." 
And  how  beautifully  do  we  see  this  precept  ex- 
emplified in  the  life  of  Christ ;  and  the  Apostle 
was  no  dreamy  sentimentalist,  talking  and  writ- 
ing pretty  things  about  self-sacrifice,  overlooking 
the  great  sacrifice  of  the  Son  of  God ;  but  while 
laying  this  as  the  only  basis  of  a  sinner's  hope, 
his  life  was  one  scene  of  the  purest  love,  and 
anxious  toil,  and  disinterested  labour  for  the  sal- 
vation of  men.      How  repeatedly  did  he  affirm 
that  he  was  willing  to  die  for  the  sake  of  the  Gos- 
pel and  people  of  God;    "I  endure  all  things," 
says  he,  "for  the  elect's  sake,  that  they  may  also 
obtain  the  salvation  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  with 
eternal  glory." 

4.  Faithfulness. — The   world,    sometimes,    has 
much  to  say  about  faithfulness ;  but  we  must  not 
forget  that  Christ  was  the  faithful  and  true  witness, 
in  a  certain  sense  the  only  one  the  world  ever 
saw,  and  yet  it  crucified  Him.     God,  to  put  men 
to  the  test  and  manifest  their  spirit,  brought  all 
truth  into  one  living  page,  and  presented  it  for 
perusal,  and  they  put  their  hands  upon  it  at  once, 


310  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

and  tore  it  to  pieces.  Our  Saviour,  we  are  told, 
"was  faithful  in  all  His  house,"  and  the  great 
Apostle  had  His  spirit ;  "  moreover,"  says  he,  "  it 
is  required  of  stewards  that  a  man  be  found  faith- 
ful." He  saw  that  he  was  in  the  midst  of  an  un- 
real world,  and  that  men  were  taken  up  with  shams 
and  loved  smooth  things;  that  a  religion  of  power 
would  have  no  friends  but  those  whom  God  made, 
and  that  truth  was  liable  to  be  killed  by  the  cour- 
tesies of  life,  and  that  it  was  possible  for  the  spirit 
of  this  world  to  overcome  the  man  of  God.  And 
hence  he  aimed  to  be  faithful ;  it  was  the  very 
height  of  his  ambition  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus 
Christ;  not  that  he  indulged  in  practical  talk 
without  a  conscience,  rattling  away  under  the  in- 
fluence of  a  professional  habit,  thinking  that  this 
was  the  object  to  be  desiderated.  He  did  not  fling 
the  precepts  of  Christ  at  men  as  so  many  stones, 
under  the  influence  of  a  heathenish  spirit;  nor 
did  he  find  it  easy  to  preach  them,  while  he  remem- 
bered that  he  ought  also  to  practise  them:  and 
hence  in  his  most  faithful  utterances  he  identified 
himself  with  the  people  to  whom  he  addressed 
himself  in  all  their  sorrows  and  conflicts,  and  as 
standing  in  need  of  the  same  corrective  words 
which  he  administered  to  others.  Nor  did  the 
Apostle  aim  to  be  faithful  by  perpetually  finding 
fault  with  everybody  and  everything,  for  he  loved 
to  commend  what  was  good.  But  he  was  true  to 
the  light  that  was  in  him  ;  and  the  truth  which 


A  EIGHT  MOTIVE.  311 

Christ  had  taught  and  made  precious  in  his  expe- 
rience he  freely  proclaimed,  whether  men  would 
hear  or  forbear.     A  proud,  haughty,  overbearing 
spirit  he  never  manifested,  nor  put  on  an  affected 
dignity  on  account  either  of  his  great  knowledge 
or  public  services;  he  was  really  great  because 
unconscious  of  his  greatness ;  and  so  truly  humble 
that  the  feeblest  babe  in  grace  would  approach 
him  with  confidence  as  a  brother.     All  his  spi- 
ritual power  and  beauty  arose  out  of  what  he 
was,  and  sprang  forth  from  his  new  nature  like 
the  blossoms  and  fruit  of  a  living  tree.     He  was 
a  powerful  reasoner, ,  not  by  the  aid  of  formal 
logic,  but  a  holy  life,  and  the  truth  he  preached 
he  sublimely  knew,  because  he  lived  it.      His 
whole  life  constrained  him  to  tell  the  whole  truth, 
and  hence  he  was  often  most  faithful  when  least 
he  knew  it ;  while  yet,  knowing  the  sensibilities 
of  spiritual  life,  he  knew  also  how  to  sustain  it 
beneath  the  dissecting  knife  of  truth.     The  faith- 
fulness of  the  Apostle,  however,  was  not  a  noisy, 
impudent,  and  obtrusive  thing;  it  was  not  like 
the  thunder-storm,  but  the  gently-descending  rain 
which  melts  the  unsightly  clods  and  makes  them 
fruitful ;  his  knife  was  keen,  and  hence  it  passed 
into  the  conscience  without  a  great  noise.     He 
was  faithful  to  his  principles,  nor  less  with  per- 
sons ;  he  courted  not  the  smile  of  the  great,  nor 
feared  the  frowns  of  the  ignorant.     Though  pre- 
pared to  render  honour  to  whom  honour  was  duef 


312  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

in  his  public  capacity  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel 
he  dealt  with  men  as  men,  and  permitted  not 
their  predilections  nor  prejudices,  nor  the  con- 
ventionalisms of  life  to  rob  his  sword  of  its  edge. 
He  thought  more  of  God  than  men  ;  of  truth  more 
than  human  opinions. 

5.  Tenderness. — Of  our  exalted  Redeemer  it 
was  written,  "  He  shall  not  break  the  bruised 
reed,  nor  quench  the  smoking  flax."  With  the 
incorruptible  fidelity  of  the  faithful  and  true  wit- 
ness, He  combined  the  most  inimitable  tender- 
ness ;  and  most  ardently  did  the  Apostle  Paul 
emulate  His  spirit.  However  searching  and  cor- 
rective the  words  of  this  great  man  fall  upon  the 
Christian's  ear,  he  ever  feels  that  it  is  a  loving 
brother  who  is  dealing  with  his  conscience.  This 
world  is  faithless  and  cruel ;  it  is  capable  of  judg- 
ment, but  not  mercy  :  men,  being  aliens  from 
God,  are  aliens  from  each  other,  and  frequently, 
in  their  self-righteous  and  ignorant  zeal,  would 
not  only  correct  but  destroy  each  other.  The 
Apostle  is  altogether  free  from  this  spirit ;  he 
wounded  but  to  heal,  and  the  two-edged  sword 
of  the  Spirit  was  ever  wielded  by  him  with  the 
greatest  tenderness  and  love.  And  surely,  amid 
the  artificialities,  flatteries,  falsehoods,  and  fre- 
quently cruelty  of  both  the  Church  and  the 
world,  every  Christian  should  aim  to  embody  in 
his  life  and  conduct  the  tenderness  of  that  Apostle 
who  in  all  things  could  say,  "  for  me  to  live  is 


A  EIGHT  MOTIVE.  313 

Christ ;"  and  to  labour  like  him  to  be  sincere,, 
amid  an  atmosphere  of  insincerity ;  to  struggle 
to  be  real  while  thousands  are  perpetually  seek- 
ing to  hide  themselves  behind  the  mask  of  false 
appearances ! 

II.  IN  WORD,  BY  THE  DOCTRINES  HE  PRO- 
CLAIMED. "We  preach  not  ourselves,"  said  he, 
"but  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord;"  and  in  another 
place,  u  I  determined  not  to  know  anything  among 
you,  save  Jesus  Christ,  and  Him  crucified ;"  and, 
writing  to  the  Galatians,  he  exclaims,  "  But  God 
forbid  that  I  should  glory,  save  in  the  Cross  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  the  world  is 
crucified  unto  me,  and  I  unto  the  world."  This 
celebrated  apostle  would  have  Christ  incarnated 
by  God's  Spirit  in  all  his  thoughts,  and  in  every 
truth  he  proclaimed ;  he  was  a  graphic  spiritual 
artist,  and  his  preaching  was  a  picture  in  which 
Christ  crucified  was  ever  the  centre  object.  And 
the  Apostle  took  this  course,  not  from  ignorance 
nor  narrowness  of  mind,  but  from  knowledge  and 
a  comprehensive  view  of  the  will  of  God,  and  of 
both  sanctified  and  unsanctified  nature.  He 
knew,  from  the  promises  of  God  and  his  own 
experience,  that  Christ  must  be  the  sun  of 
his  doctrinal  system,  if  its  several  truths  were 
to  be  clothed  with  spiritual  beauty,  and  made 
attractive  to  the  faith  of  real  Christians,  or 
to  exert  a  vivifying  and  fertilizing  influence 
upon  the  hearts  of  men  in  general ;  hence,  how- 
27 


314  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

ever' broken,  incoherent,  and  unsystematized  his 
writings  or  utterances  may  seem  to  be,  the  spi- 
ritual eye  will  ever  perceive  that  he  placed  Christ 
in  the  centre  as  a  magnet  to  bring  them  together, 
to  vitalize  them,  and  give  them  unity  and  force 
upon  the  conscience.  The  Gospel  in  his  hands, 
like  a  kaleidoscope,  constantly  presented  truths 
in  various  forms  and  colours,  the  whole  of  which, 
however,  through  the  light  of  God's  Spirit,  per- 
petually blended  together  to  form  but  one  image, 
the  consummate  beauty  and  instructive  perfection 
of  which  eternity  will  never  fully  reveal— that  of 
Him  who,  in  the  estimation  of  every  saint,  is 
"  the  chief  among  ten  thousand,  and  the  alto- 
gether lovely;"  a  man  of  sorrows,  it  is  true,  with 
a  head  crowned  with  thorns,  a  body  broken  and 
pierced  with  hails,  but  a  centre  of  profound  mys- 
tery, divine  wisdom,  and  moral  utterance,  upon 
which  the  highest  intelligences  of  heaven  gaze 
with  holy  reverence,  wonder,  and  delight — a  page 
of  truth  comprehending  and  embracing  all  other 
truths,  and  bringing  each  divergent  line  of  this 
world's  mysteries  and  sorrows  into  the  all-absorb- 
ing infinite  and  inimitable  centre  of  Jehovah's 
LOVE.  This,  the  key-stone  of  that  arch  which 
spans  the  Divine  perfections,  the  basis  of  those 
attributes  which  form  the  very  nature  of  God — 
which,  in  union  with  His  justice,  becomes  the  great 
healer  of  all  man's  grief,  the  foundation  of  his 
undying  bliss  and  everlasting  triumph  over  sin, 


A  RIGHT  MOTIVE.  315 

death,  and  hell — throws  forth  its  brightness  and 
beauty  through  the  Cross  of  Christ ;  and  hence 
all  the  words  of  this  well-instructed  scribe  and 
illustrious  apostle,  went  but  to  form  the  god-like 
base  and  column  of  his  public  work,  upon  the 
golden  apex  of  which  in  characters  of  light  were 
ever  inscribed  the  one  great  legend  of  this  world's 
sins  and  sorrows,  and  the  great  remedy  of  all  its 
woes — "  CHRIST  CRUCIFIED." 

III.  DEEDS.— The  life  of  the  Apostle  Paul  was 
not  only  sublime  in  words,  but  WORK.  He  not 
only  spoke  well,  but  he  did  well:  his  actions 
gave  emphasis  to  bis  teaching;  he  could  say, 
"  These  things  which  ye  have  both  learned  and 
received,  and  heard  and  seen  in  me,  do,  and  the 
God  of  heaven  shall  be  with  you;"  and  it  is  this 
union  of  right  principles  with  right  conduct 
which  constitutes  a  great  life.  And  as  Christ 
was  the  centre  of  all  the  Apostle's  words,  so  he 
was  no  less  the  life  of  all  his  deeds ;  hence,  as  his 
words  had  a  noble  meaning,  so  had  also  his  ac- 
tions, and  both  terminated  in  one  object,  the 
exaltation  of  the  Son  of  God.  The  Apostle's  life, 
therefore,  was,  in  the  highest  sense,  a  great  speak- 
ing life — full  of  holy  and  instructive  lessons, 
copied  from  the  life  of  the  Great  Exemplar.  The 
activities  of  his  bodily  and  mental  powers  were 
not  the  movements  of  a  mere  intellectual  machine, 
on  which  little  meaning  and  no  moral  aim  could 
be  written,  but  they  were  the  visible  embodiments 


816  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

of  a  holy  and  spiritual  intelligence  in  him,  as 
truly  related  to  Christ  as  the  needle  to  the  pole. 
The  biography  of  the  Apostle,  therefore,  was 
great,  because  filled  with  a  greater  than  himself; 
and  so  far  from  his  words  and  deeds  resembling 
those  of  a  mere  automaton,  or  intended  by  him  to 
accomplish  but  another  incarnation  of  himself 
before  the  eye  of  his  mind  or  the  gaze  of  the 
world,  they  were  charged  with  a  more  exalted 
mission,  and  designed  by  him  to  issue  in  a  constant 
apocalypse  of  His  Lord  and  Master.  And  thus 
the  fame  which  others  seek  to  obtain  by  labouring 
to  exalt  themselves,  he  unconsciously  achieved  by 
living  to  make  known  another ;  the  entire  hemi- 
sphere of  his  receptive  and  active  life  being  filled 
with  Christ,  his  words  and  deeds  are  as  imperish- 
able as  the  life  from  whence  they  sprang,  and 
from  them  springs  forth  an  influence,  the  waves 
of  which  not  only  rise  and  spread  over  the  ocean 
of  time,  but  break  forth  in  one  ceaseless,  everlast- 
ing anthem  upon  the  shores  of  eternity. 

0  reader !  what  dost  thou  know  of  this  vital, 
soul-transforming  Christianity,  of  which  Christ  is 
the  centre  and  circumference?  Dost  thou  aim  to 
exhibit  Him  in  spirit,  word,  and  deed?  The 
priests  of  Eome  tell  us  that  even  right  principles 
are  too  abstract,  and  that  we  fail  in  our  Chris- 
tianity because  we  have  not  a  priest  to  embody 
and  give  them  a  practical  exemplification  before 
us ;  but,  oh,  we  fail,  not  because  we  have  not  a 


A  RIGHT  MOTIVE.  317 

priest,  for  we  have  One  of  whom  it  is  witnessed 
that  "HE  EVER  LIVETH,"  but  because  we  seek 
not  that  grace  which  lived  in  the  heart  of  the 
Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  and  which  made  his  life 
so  beautiful  a  transcript  of  heaven's  richest  mercy, 
wisdom,  and  love.  Alas!  what  poor  artists  we 
are  at  best,  and  how  frequently  our  most  elabo- 
rate attempts  to  portray  the  "  Fairest  of  the  Fair  " 
do  but  hide  His  beauty.  May  we  at  least  have 
the  humility  which  becomes  the  initial  lines  of 
the  great  Picture  we  have  dared  to  set  before  us, 
and,  above  all,  be  kept  from  an  affected  magna- 
nimit}7  which  more  than  anything  transforms  us 
into  so  many  caricatures  of  Him  who  was  meek 
and  lowly  in  heart. 

But  it  may  be  profitable  for  us  before  we  close 
this  paper  to  notice  what  is  involved  in  the  de- 
velopment and  maintenance  of  this  life,  and  some 
of  its  advantages. 

THE  DEVELOPMENT  AND  MAINTENANCE  OF 
THIS  LIFE.  Many  things  are  involved : — 

1.  Spiritual  Life. — As  all  the  external  beauty 
and  fruit  of  a  tree  springs  from  the  living  sap  of 
the  root,  so  all  the  spiritual  and  practical  beauty 
of  the  Christian  must  spring  from  a  principle  of 
spiritual  life  ever  in  connexion  with  its  great 
Author,  or  it  will  perish ;  as  our  Saviour  admon- 
ished us  when,  speaking  of  certain  hearers  of  the 
Gospel,  He  said,  "and  because  they  had  no  root 
in  themselves  they  withered  away." 
27* 


318  LESSONS  FEOM  JESUS. 

2.  Dependence. — "We  are  not  sufficient  of  our- 
selves to  think  a  good  thought  as  of  ourselves," 
said  the  Apostle,  "  but  our  sufficiency  is  of  God." 
"  Abide  in  me,"  said  Christ,  "and  I  in  yon;  as 
the  branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself  except  it 
abide  in  the  vine,  no  more  can  ye  except  ye 
abide  in  me."     If  we  .are  to  bear  the  fruit,  there- 
fore, of  the  TRUE  VINE,  we  must  receive  of  its 
living  sap,  and  look  to  Christ  constantly  for  the 
renewings  of  His  Divine  Spirit. 

3.  Watchfulness. — How  carefully  does  the  artist 
watch  his  hand  when  imparting  to  his  picture 
those  minute  touches  upon  the  precision  of  which 
the  life  and  beauty  of  his  picture  depends ;  and 
how  watchful  must  the  Christian  be  over  his  little 
words,  tempers  and  things,  if  he  would  have  it 
known  and  felt  that  "  for  him  to  live  is  Christ." 

4.  Diligence. — It  has  been  said  of  one  of  the 
pictures  of  a  certain  artist,  that  every  square  inch 
of  its  surface,  when  brought  under  the  glass,  exhi- 
bits marks  of  genius,  and  the  closest  study  and 
observation  of  Nature  in  all  her  changing  moods 
and   manifestations  ;    and  oh,  if  our  life  in  the 
remotest  degree,  is  to  be  a  transcript  of  One  who 
was  the  perfection  of  beauty,  what  labour  we  must 
expend  upon  it !    And  if  men,  in  the  pursuit  of  a 
passing  glory,  will  expend  so  much  toil  upon  a 
piece  of  canvas  to  exhibit  but  a  passing  gleam  of 
this  world's  glory,  how  much  more  labour  should 
we  willingly  devote  to  the  perfection  of  a  spirit 


A   RIGHT   MOTIVE.  319 

which  can  receive  and  exhibit  an  imperishable 
beauty  before  the  throne  of  God ! 

5.  Prayer. — He  who  would  exhibit  Christ  must 
walk  with  Christ ;  it  is  by  communion  with  Him 
that  we  catch  His  Spirit.  Prayer  keeps  us  from 
fainting  beneath  the  imperfection  of  our  own 
efforts,  revives  the  drooping  heart,  and  gives 
tranquillity  and  strength  to  the  mind,  to  sketch 
in,  upon  the  crossed  and  blotted  page  of  life,  some 
at  least  of  the  heavenly  lineaments  of  Divine  pity, 
purity,  mercy  and  love,  so  that  all  is  not  quite  con- 
fusion and  darkness.  Oh,  ye  prayerless  souls, 
what  a  dark  enigma  must  your  lives  be,  both  to 
yourselves  and  others !  Know  ye  that  the  ele- 
ments of  a  great  character  are  developed  and 
matured  by  divine  Mercy,  and  that  she  stoops 
only  to  embrace  her  children  upon  the  knee  of 
prayer,  and  beneath  the  golden  propitiatory  of  a 
Saviour's  righteousness. 
THE  ADVANTAGES  OF  THIS  LIFE  : — 
1.  It  will  give  a  dignity  and  grandeur  to  our 
existence. — An  exalted  aim  will  impart  greatness 
to  any  man's  life,  however  humble  or  insignifi- 
cant he  may  be  in  the  estimation  of  the  world. 
And  what  is  the  aim  of  a  real  Christian  ?  to  ex- 
hibit Christ,  to  embody  His  teachings  in  his  life, 
and  to  exemplify  His  graces.  It  is  while  daring 
to  make  this  attempt,  that  he  learns  what  Christ 
is ;  and  while  he  thus  realizes  his  own  littleness 
and  insufficiency,  his  feeblest  efforts  raise  him  to  a 


320  LESSONS   FROM  JESUS. 

moral  and  spiritual  elevation  he  never  otherwise 
would  have  perceived  or  known.  Actuated  by 
such  a  motive,  the  whole  of  the  Christian's  life 
becomes  sublime,  pregnant  with  Divine  principles 
and  undying  thoughts.  The  smallest  affairs  of 
life,  as  we  deem  them,  gather  a  meaning  from  the 
purpose  to  which  they  are  subordinated,  and 
assume  a  shape  and  beauty,  in  the  eyes  even  of 
the  Great  Eternal,  and  in  relation  to  the  Divine 
object,  which,  like  the  minute  touches  of  the 
artist's  pencil,  they  are  intended  to  portray. 

2.  An  intelligent  unity  to  life. — What  a  number 
of  valuable  lives  are  lost,  for  want  of  unity  of 
moral  aim !  Now  it  is  thought  this  is  of  import 
ance,  and  now  that.  Now  it  is  a  moral  apho- 
rism, now  a  law  of  etiquette,  now  a  piece  of 
ritualism  ;  many  things  in  turn  and  nothing 
long.  Oh,  how  many,  at  the  close  of  life,  behold 
all  their  efforts  lie  together,  a  rude  and  senseless 
heap,  without  form,  coherence,  or  meaning ;  upon 
which,  in  their  dying  hour,  they  write  vanity  and 
vexation  of  spirit,  and  depart,  having  exerted  no 
permanent,  elevating  influence  over  their  fellow- 
creatures.  The  Christian  escapes  this:  the  one 
object  for  which  he  lives,  in  the  hands  of  God's 
Spirit,  gives  a  force  and  vitality  to  his  labours,  so 
that  he  cannot  live  in  vain ;  wherever  he  goes,  he 
has  a  clear  perception  of  his  work,  and  of  the  great 
business  of  life ;  nor  does  he  waste  his  time  look- 
ing after  either  his  implements  or  companions. 


A  EIGHT   MOTIVE.  321 

In  reference  to  the  former,  the  words  of  Jesus  and 
the  hand  of  faith  are  all  he  needs ;  while,  as  it  re- 
gards the  latter,  those  who  serve  his  Lord  best  are 
his  selected  friends.  Thus  he  is  neither  driven  nor 
drifted  by  the  strong  current  of  life  into  either 
his  creed  or  connexions,  but  selects  both  under  the 
guidance  of  the  life  which  is  in  him,  and  with  a 
view  to  the  great  object  to  which,  constrained  by 
Divine  love,  he  has  consecrated  all  his  powers. 

3.  Perpetuity. — Of  the  Christian,  it  is  written 
"  He  shall  grow  as  the  lily,  and  cast  forth  his  roots 
as  Lebanon.  His  branches  shall  spread,  and  his 
beauty  shall  be  as  the  olive  tree,  and  his  smell  as 
Lebanon.  They  that  dwell  under  his  shadow  shall 
return ;  they  shall  revive  as  the  corn,  and  grow  as 
the  vine :  the  scent  thereof  shall  be  as  the  wine  of 
Lebanon.'7  In  constantly  returning  to  God  in 
Christ,  the  believer  exerts  an  influence  upon  him- 
self and  others  which  shall  never  die ;  and  the  fair 
outlines  of  truth  which  he  is  instrumental  in 
stamping  upon  the  heart  in  the  exhibition  of 
Christ,  shall  never  be  effaced;  while  the  pure 
current  of  that  happiness  which  he  finds  in  his 
aim  and  work,  shall  continue  to  rise  and  rise,  until 
it  reaches  the  throne  of  God  and  the  Lamb,  where, 
spreading  like  a  sea  of  glass,  it  shall  for  ever  reflect, 
in  all  their  perfection  and  beauty,  the  spiritual 
lineaments  of  Him,  whose  grace,  rich,  free,  and 
abundant,  bade  it  to  gush  forth  in  the  heart  and 
life  of  an  alien  and  stranger. 


322  LESSOXS   FROM   JESUS. 

In  conclusion,  dear  reader,  how  different  is  the 
life  of  a  real  Christian  from  that  of  a  mere  ritualist, 
or  man  of  the  world !  The  former  lives  to  exhibit 
Christ ;  the  latter  himself,  or  some  part  or  parts  of 
a  dead  material  system.  We  perceive  what  the 
Christian  cannot  be — he  cannot  be  an  egotist, 
for  he  lives  to  exhibit  another :  we  see  what  he 
must  be,  an  epistle  of  Christ.  The  true  believer 
would  have  his  entire  life  built  up  as  a  chaste 
temple  to  the  memory  of  Jesus.  What  the 
Christian  is  to  be  in  heaven  he  desires  to  be  here, 
a  mirror  in  the  hand  of  Love,  perpetually  reflecting 
the  beauty  of  his  Lord.  How  worthless  is  pro- 
fession without  Christ !  how  vain  our  anticipation 
of  heaven  !  Without  Christ  we  can  only  exhibit 
Satan  and  ourselves ; — this  may  be  allowed  in  this 
world,  but  not  in  that  which  is  to  come.  '  Eeal 
greatness,  then,  does  not  consist  in  mere  intellectual 
power,  wealth,  or  skill  in  things  human  or  divine  ; 
but  in  the  conformity  of  our  minds  to  Christ.  And 
this  greatness  is  accessible  to  the  poor  as  well  as 
the  rich,  the  learned  and  the  unlearned — a  great- 
ness upon  which  even  God  will  smile,  which 
emulates  and  embodies  the  perfections  of  His  Son, 
and  derives  an  imperishable  beauty,  fragrance,  and 
beneficence  from  the  constant  ministrations  and 
discipline  of  the  Eternal  Spirit ;  and  which,  when 
all  the  greatness  of  this  world,  with  all  its  manifold 
signs  and  symbols,  shall  have  passed  away,  robed 
in  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  shall  lift  its  regal 


A   RIGHT   MOTIVE.  323 

head  among  the  sons  of  God,  and  even  there,  in 
other  forms  and  more  illustrious  words,  shall  still 
give  utterance  to  the  glorious  theme,  u  FOR  ME  TO 
LIVE  is  CHRIST."  May  the  Apostle's  prayer, 
therefore,  be  ours:— "THAT  I  MAY  KNOW  HIM, 

AND  THE  POWER  OF  HlS  RESURRECTION,  AND 
THE  FELLOWSHIP  OF  HIS  SUFFERINGS,  BEING  MADE 
CONFORMABLE  UNTO  HIS  DEATH  !  " 

''  NOW  UNTO  HIM  THAT  IS  ABLE  TO  KEEP 
YOU  FROM  FALLING,  AND  TO  PRESENT  YOU  FAULT- 
LESS BEFORE  THE  PRESENCE  OF  HIS  GLORY  WITH 
EXCEEDING  JOY, 

"  TO  THE  ONLY  WISE  GOD,  OUR  SAVIOUR,  BE 
GLORY  AND  MAJESTY,  DOMINION  AND  POWER, 
BOTH  NOW  AND  EVER.  AMEN." 


;'  My  Father !  Heavenly  Father !  to  whom  sole 
I  lift  my  eye  in  trouble  or  in  joy, — 
Thou  who  hast  led  me?  erst  a  wayward  child, — 
And  wayward  still,  from  weakness,  not  from  choice, — 
And  brought  me  thus  far  on  my  journey's  way, 
Grant  in  the  years  to  come  I  still  may  prove 
Obedient  to  the  imperial  Voice  within  ; 
Voice  of  that  soul  which  Thou  hast  given  ;  which  bids 
Still  to  go  forward,  resting  riot  till  death. 
Oh!  make  me  strong,  that  so  when  sorrows  come, 
When  loved  ones  die  and  leave  me,  and  the  day 
Grows  dark  about  me,  and  the  sunshine  comes 
To  the  heart  no  more,  and  the  Spirit's  life  seems  gone 
With  the  love  that  fed  it,  I  may  still  march  on, 
Content  to  do  Thy  work,  and  heed  no  more 
Whether  the  clarion-voice  of  fame  do  come 
In  life,  or  after  death,  or  not  at  all. 


324  LESSONS  FROM  JESUS. 

Ob,  be  it  mine,  at  life's  bless'd  close,  to  stand, 

Scarr'd  though  it  be  with  sorrows,  still  erect, 

In  harness  to  the  last, — raising  my  hands 

On  the  won  battle-field  aloft  to  Thee, 

And  with  a  calm  joy  yielding  up  my  soul, — 

Scourged,  chastened,  purified, — and  hearing  now 

The  inner  voices  chanting  victory  ! 

Like  some  old  warrior-chief,  on  his  last  field, 

Dying  with  upturned  face,  and  in  his  ears 

An  army's  songs  of  triumph; — heedless  all, 

If  so  be  the  stern  fight  is  won  at  last, 

And  his  flag  flies,  victorious  still  in  death." 


^s%> 

hJHITBRSITTl 


THE  END. 


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men  ted  brother."—  New  York  Chronicle. 

GRACE  TRUMAN;    or,  Love  and  Principle. 
By  SALLIE  ROCHESTER  FORD.     With  Steel  Portrait  of  the 
Authoress.     1  vol.  12mo.    Price  $1. 

PRINCIPLES  AND  PRACTICES  OF  BAP- 

TISTS.     By  FRANCIS  WAYLAND,  D.  D.     1  vol.   12 mo. 
Price,  $1. 

THE    BAPTIST    DENOMINATION.       By 

-*•  Rev.  D.  C.  HAYNES.  With  an  Introduction  by  Rev.  JOHN 
DOWLING,  D.  D.  1  vol.  12mo.  Price  $1. 

THE   BAPTIST  LIBRARY.      A  Republica- 

A  tioii  of  Standard  Baptist  Works.  Edited  by  Rev.  Messrs. 
G.  G.  SOMERS,  W.  R.  WILLIAMS,  and  L.  L.  HILL.  1  vol.  royal 
octavo.  Sheep.  $3  50. 

BENEDICT'S    HISTORY    OF    THE   BAP- 

•D  TISTS  A  General  History  of  the  Baptist  Denomination  in 
America,  and  other  parts  of  the  World.  By  DAVID  BENEDICT. 
With  a  Steel  Portrait  of  Roger  Williams.  1  vol.  royal  octavo. 
Sheep.  Price  $3  50. 

COMPENDIUM  OF  THE  FAITH  OF  THE 

^     BAPTISTS.     Paper.     Price,  per  dozen,  50  cents. 


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IJLIND  BAETIMEUS;   Or,  The   Story  of  a 

**  Sightless  Sinner  and  his  Great  Physician.  By  Rev.  WILLIAM 
J.  HOGE,  Professor  in  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  Prince 
Edwards,  Va.  1  vol.  large  18mo.  257  pages.  75  cents. 

"A  most  excellent  book,  full  of  sound  instruction  and  the  very  spirit  of 
the  Gospel." — Boston  Recorder. 

"  We  wish  it  could  be  placed,  this  winter,  in  the  hands  of  thousands  of 
*  sightless  sinners.1  " — Cincinnati  Christian  Herald. 

"  Brief  in  compass,  clear  in  arrangement,  and  singularly  animated, 
direct,  forcible,  and  pungent  in  style,  not  rarely  reminding  one  of  the  fer- 
vor of  Richard  Baxter,  while  marked  throughout  by  a  classic  elegance  of 
diction,  to  which  he  made  no  pretension.1' — Cor.  N.  C.  Presbyterian. 


|)AILY  THOUGHTS   FOR  A  CHILD.     By 

Mrs.  THOMAS  GELDART,  author  of  "  Truth  is  Every  Thing," 
"  Emilio  the  Peacemaker,"  etc.,  etc.  1  vol.  18mo.  50  cents. 

44  In  exquisite  simplicity  of  style,  beauty  of  illustration,  and  religious 
power,  this  book  has  few  superiors  in  juvenile  literature.11 — Boston  Era. 

44  Meditations  for  morning  and  evening  for  a  month,  adapted  to  the 
capacity  and  aspirations  of  a  youthful  heart.  Many  of  them  are  very 
sweet  »,nd  affecting  compositions.11 

44  A  charming  little  work,  which  is  sure  to  be  a  Tavorite  with  the 
young.11— English  Papers. 

TRUTH    IS    EVEEY    THING.       By    Mrs. 

•*•     THOMAS  GELDART.     1  vol.  18mo.     Price  50  cents. 

u  The  interest  of  the  volume  is  genuine.  There  is  nothing  false  or  spu- 
rious about  it.  It  is  true  to  nature ;  it  is  true  to  the  heart.11 

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tice  and  love  of  truth.11 

44  This  is  a  charming  tale,  attractive  from  the  simplicity  and  beauty  of 
feeling  which  pervades  it — most  useful  because  it  steps  not  beyond  the 
comprehension  of  youth.'1 — English  Press. 

THE    LIVING   EPISTLE;    or,    The    Moral 

Power  of  a  Religious  Life.  By  Rev.  CORNELIUS  TYREE,  of 
Powhatan,  Va.  With  an  Introduction  by  Rev.  Dr.  FULLER,  of 
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'4It  is  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  times,  and,  we  trust,  will  be  exten- 
sively read." — Southern  Baptist  Missionary  Magazine. 

44  A  book  full  of  good  counsels,  important  lessons,  elevating  the  idea  of 
the  Christian  life,  and  encouraging  the  reader  to  holy  living  and  action." 
— New  York  Ob»e.rver. 


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CTJMMER  PICTURES   PEOM   COPENHA- 
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Mr.  Field's  book  gives  lively  pictures  of  the  Continent  and  ita 
inhabitants,  and  is  particularly  valuable  for  its  descriptions  of 
northern  Italy,  the  scene  of  the  coming  conflict.  It  will  be  a 
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THE  LOSING  AND  TAKING  OF  MAN- 

SOUL ;  or,  Lectures  on  the  Holy  "War.  By  Rev.  A.  S. 
PATTON,  A.M.  1  vol.  12mo.  Illustrated  with  Eight  spirited 
Engravings.  Price  $1. 

"  He  writes  well  and  forcibly." — Philadelphia  Ledger. 

44  The  eminent  author  of  this  work  has  compressed  into  a  brief  space  a 
comprehensive  review  of  the  evils  which,  without  religious  influences, 
everywhere  abound  in  society,  and  the  effective  means  with  which  to  cor- 
rect them.  It  is  the  result  of  a  life-time  of  deep  thought  and  close  obser- 
vation."— Dubuque  Times. 

THE  «  PEECIOUS  STONES  OP  THE  HE AV- 

ENLY  FOUNDATIONS."  By  AUGUSTA  BROWN  GARRET. 
1  vol.  18mo.  Price  $1. 

44  A  book  of  great  beauty,  and  full  of  attractive  discourse  on  heavenly 
and  divine  things."— New  York  Observer. 

44  The  articles  are  brief,  and  include  many  choice  specimens  of  prose  and 
poetry.  It  is  especially  adapted  to  lay  on  the  center-table,  or  elsewhere, 
for  the  casual  reader." — Congregationalist. 

"  The  book  is  a  suggestive  one,  and  needs  but  a  slight  examination  to 
become  a  favorite  with  the  religious  portion  of  the  community."— Boston 
Post. 

MEMOIR  OP  REV.  DAVID  T.  STODDARD. 

By  Rev.  J.  P.  THOMPSON,  D.  D.    1  vol.  12mo.    Pnce  $1. 

44  A  biography  of  serene  beauty  and  abiding  value." — New  Englander. 

44  All  Sabbath  School  libraries  and  all  students  should  especially  make 
rare  of  the  possession  of  this  volume.'1— Congregationalist. 

41  The  entire  volume  proffers  numerous  claims  to  an  extended  circuit* 
tion." — North  American. 


Books    iPioblislied.    by    Sh.eld.on    &c    Co. 


THE  CHKISTIAN  GEACES.    By  Eev.  J.  P. 

THOMPSON,  D.D.,  of  the  Broadway  Tabernacle.  1  vol. 
18mo  Price  75  cents. 

t;  The  book  i»  well  fitted  to  do  good  to  all  everywhere ;  and  we  hope  it 
will  be  widely  read,  and  made  greatly  useful.*' — New  York  Observer. 

44  Dr.  Thompson  has  a  happy  talent  for  the  familiar  exposition  of  Scrip- 
ture, and  the  practical  application  of  its  doctrines." — Boston  Recorder. 

41  They  are  earnest  and  affectionate  exhortations,  intended  to  help  in  the 
formation  of  Christian  character,  and  the  cultivation  of  the  Christian 
graces." — Boston  Advertiser. 

THE  BIBLE  IN  THE  LEVANT;   or,  The 

Life  and  Letters  of  Rev.  CHESTER  N.  RIGHTER.  By  Rev.  S. 
IRESMEUS  PRIME,  D.D.  Illustrated  with  a  Steel  Portrait  of  Mr. 
Rigkter.  1  vol.  18 mo.  336  pages.  Price  75  cents. 

44  The  results  of  his  efforts  are  narrated  by  Mr.  Prime  in  a  style  clear 
and  interesting,  which  renders  this  volume  not  only  readable,  but  exceed- 
ingly instructive.  We  can  commend  the  work  with  entire  confidence  that 
it  will  be  productive  of  good  results."— Boston  Post. 

44  It  is  really  beautiful  in  its  delineation  of  a  frank,  whole-souled  man, 
who  always  pressed  straight  forward  in  the  fear  of  God,  without  any  fear 
of  man." — Hartford  Courant. 

4'  Mr.  Righter' s  visit  to  the  Copts,  in  Egypt,  and  description  of  that  in- 
teresting people,  will  be  read  with  peculiar  interest.  The  account  of  his 
travels  is  taken  principally  from  his  letters,  and  displays,  unconsciously, 
his  bold,  fearless,  unwavering  devotion  to  the  right.  His  biographer  was 
his  traveling  companion  in  his  first  tour  abroad,  and  enjoyed  peculiar  ad- 
vantages for  thoroughly  comprehending  his  character." — Boston  Journal. 

GLIMPSES  OF  JESUS,  EXALTED  IN  THE 

V     AFFECTIONS  OF  HIS  PEOPLE.    By  Rev.  W.  P  SAL- 
TERN.    1  vol.  18mo.     Price  60  cents. 

44  This  book  is  redolent  with  the  sweet  savor  of  Him  whose  name  is  like 
precious  ointment  poured  forth." — Evangelical  Repository. 

44  Few  works  of  this  class  are  to  be  named  with  it,  and  as  a  Sabbath 
School  volume  it  stands,  we  should  think,  almost  without  a  rival." — Bos- 
jon  Daily  Traveller. 

4'  This  is  a  sweet  little  book.  Many  a  halting  pilgrim  will  be  quickened, 
many  awakened  ones  will  be  led  to  Jesus,  and  many  stricken  souls  will  be 
revived  and  comforted  by  a  perusal  of  its  pages,  beaming  with  a  Saviour's 
love." — Prcsb'/terian  Banner  and  Advocate. 

44  It  presents  the  example  of  Christ  under  the  various  circumstances  and 
vicissitudes  of  his  brief  earthly  history,  for  the  imitation  and  encourage- 
ment of  his  followers." — American  Presbyterian  and  Genesaee  Evangelist. 


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